[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 28 (Wednesday, February 11, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E247-E248]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  A TRIBUTE IN HONOR OF THE SALESIAN SISTERS OF ST. JOHN BOSCO ON THE 
  OCCASION OF THEIR 100 YEARS OF SERVICE TO YOUTH IN THE UNITED STATES

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. LUCILLE ROYBAL-ALLARD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 11, 2009

  Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the 
Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco for their 100 years of dedicated 
service to young people across the country, and particularly in our 
communities of Boyle Heights, Bellflower and Bell Gardens in the 34th 
Congressional District of California.
  The Salesian Sisters, also known as the Daughters of Mary Help of 
Christians, were founded by one of the great Italian educators of the 
19th century, Saint John Bosco, with the collaboration of Saint Mary 
Domenica Mazzarello. During that time, Northern Italy was becoming 
increasingly industrialized and both of these religious leaders 
recognized the great need to establish schools for the disadvantaged, 
as well as the many abandoned youth in working class communities.
  The history of the Salesian Sisters in this country begins in July of 
1908 when four Sisters made the voyage from Northern Italy to the 
United States, setting out to replicate the good work they had 
accomplished in Italy. Like millions of others who emigrated to our 
shores at that time, the Sisters arrived at Ellis Island in the port of 
New York. Knowing no English and with limited resources, these 
pioneering women made a living taking in orders of sewing and 
embroidery while ministering to the Italian immigrants at St. Michael's 
parish in Paterson, New Jersey.
  Gradually, the Sisters began to broaden their work in this country by 
opening an orphanage and a small school. As more and more young women 
joined the Sisterhood, the reach of their mission expanded to New 
Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Florida. In time, the Sisters 
opened centers in other parts of the country, including Louisiana, 
Texas, Colorado, Arizona, and California.
  In 1921, the first Salesian Sisters arrived in California where they 
took over the care of an orphanage and, later, the care of the boys in 
the junior seminary operated by the Salesian Fathers and Brothers in 
the Central Coast area of California. They eventually established 
several schools throughout the state, and in 1950, the Sisters opened 
St. Margaret Mary School in Lomita in Southern California.
  In the 34th Congressional District, the first educational center 
established by the Sisters was St. Dominic Savio School in Bellflower, 
opened in 1956. By 1960, the nearby aerospace plant employed thousands 
of workers--many of them school parents--and the school population was 
at a maximum. When the plant closed, many families relocated. The local 
population was replaced by different ethnic groups, making the area 
today one of the most diverse in the United States. The school adapted 
well to the demographic changes, and continues to thrive today serving 
the spiritual and educational needs of the community.
  Another school in the 34th District administered by the Salesian 
Sisters is St. Mary's Catholic School in Boyle Heights. St. Mary's was 
established in 1907 by the Holy Name Sisters. During that time, Boyle 
Heights became highly industrialized and many people moved in from 
various countries seeking new opportunities. After World War II, much 
of the non-Latino population moved to outlying areas, and the community 
became increasingly populated by Mexican immigrants. By 1990, school 
enrollment at St. Mary's dropped significantly and the Holy Name 
Sisters could no longer provide personnel for the school. The Salesian 
Sisters were then asked to take over the school, and they have been 
there to this day.
  The Salesian Sisters also operated St. Gertrude's School in Bell 
Gardens in the 34th District for 30 years.
  Madam Speaker, on a personal note, I attended St. Mary's Catholic 
School prior to the coming of the Salesian Sisters, and I am very 
pleased the school continues to serve local youth today under the 
Sisters' devoted guidance. I might also add that my father, the late 
Congressman Edward R. Roybal, was a committed supporter of Salesian 
schools. He was instrumental in helping establish the Bishop Mora 
Salesian High School for young men in Boyle Heights, which many area 
boys attend today following their 8th grade graduation from St. Mary's.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to please join me in honoring the 
noble mission of the Salesian Sisters in the United States in educating 
our youth over the past 100 years, and I extend to all of them my 
fondest wishes for many more years of dedicated service.
    

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