[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 139 (Wednesday, September 30, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2405]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING THE HISTORICAL CONTRIBUTIONS OF CATHOLIC SISTERS IN THE UNITED 
                                 STATES

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 30, 2009

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this 
resolution to honor the historical contributions of Catholic sisters in 
the United States.
  In 1727, nine Ursuline Sisters from France arrived in New Orleans to 
live and work. Since then, Catholic sisters have contributed to the 
vitality of this country through their dedication to education, health, 
and social justice. Today the approximately 59,000 Catholic sisters in 
the U.S. continue to educate our youth, nurse the sick, and serve the 
most vulnerable in our society.
  Catholic sisters have provided a well-rounded education to millions 
of students across the U.S. They established the nation's largest 
private school system and founded more than 110 colleges and 
universities. Attending an all day Catholic kindergarten gave me a 
strong start in my own education. Later, I attended the College of St. 
Catherine in St. Paul, now St. Catherine's University. It was founded 
by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in 1905 and for more than 
100 years has educated students of diverse ages and backgrounds in a 
tradition of the liberal arts and social justice. At St. Catherine's, I 
had the opportunity to student teach at St. Luke's Catholic School in 
St. Paul and worked with educators who enriched students' lives through 
academics and spiritual development.
  As the United States expanded westward, Catholic sisters not only 
built schools but also established hospitals and other charitable 
organizations. St. Paul is home to Minnesota's first hospital--St. 
Joseph's. It was founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in 
1853 in response to the cholera epidemic afflicting the Minnesota 
territory. My two children were born at St. Joseph's and to this day 
this hospital provides quality care to the people of Minnesota's Fourth 
Congressional District.
  It is with gratitude for their commitment and efforts that I rise to 
thank Catholic sisters for their valuable contributions to our nation.

                          ____________________