[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 125 (Thursday, September 16, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1678]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING ST. JOHN OF THE CROSS PARISH IN WESTERN SPRINGS ON THEIR 50TH 
                              ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DANIEL LIPINSKI

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 16, 2010

  Mr. LIPINSKI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the clergy, 
faculty, staff, students, and parishioners of St. John of the Cross 
Parish, a Catholic community in Western Springs, Illinois. This 
Saturday, September 18th, the parish is beginning a year-long 
celebration of 50 years as a faith community. My wife, Judy, and I will 
be participating in the first anniversary event which is a Mass 
celebrated by Francis Cardinal George followed by a parish family 
dinner reception.
  Responding to a growing Catholic population in Western Springs in the 
1950s, the Archbishop of Chicago, Albert Cardinal Meyer, authorized the 
founding of St. John of the Cross Parish in 1960. The original parish 
included 650 families. The church flourished under its first pastor, 
Reverend William J. Bennett, and opened a K-8 school of 595 students 
one year later.
  Over the last 50 years, St. John of the Cross has been a pillar of 
the community in Western Springs. Its primary mission is feeding the 
spiritual needs of its 13,000 Catholic parishioners in 3,875 families. 
It is also one of the most generous faith communities in Chicagoland, 
including providing financial help and cultivating personal 
relationships with five churches around the U.S. and one in Uganda, 
along with helping to serve the basic needs of countless people in the 
area and around the world. St. John of the Cross Parish also supports a 
school that currently enrolls 700 students and is one of the top 
schools in Chicagoland.
  As a parishioner of St. John of the Cross Parish, I have been able to 
witness first-hand the dedication and hard work of current pastor, 
Reverend David P. Dowdle, and the previous pastor, Reverend Richard 
Hines. All of the priests and staff members of St. John of the Cross 
cultivate a culture of charity and community among the parish.
  I ask you to join me in honoring the clergy, faculty, staff, 
students, and parishioners of St. John of the Cross on the parish's 
50th anniversary. May they enjoy this year-long celebration and may 
they provide many more years of commitment and service to the 
community.

                          ____________________