[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 84 (Monday, June 13, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1075-E1076]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                IN HONOR OF THE REVEREND JOHN KEVIN RING

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. NANCY PELOSI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 13, 2011

  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Father John Kevin Ring, who 
on June 12, 2011 will celebrate his Golden Jubilee of priestly service 
in San Francisco, California.
  I join my fellow parishioners in profound gratitude for Father Ring's 
service as Pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Church and St. Vincent de Paul 
School, both which have flourished with his guidance over the past 24 
years.
  Father John Ring was born in San Francisco and grew up in St. Anne's 
Parish in the Sunset district. He entered the seminary at St. Joseph's 
College in Mountain View and continued his studies for the Priesthood 
at St. Patrick's Seminary in Menlo Park. Father Ring was ordained a 
priest on June 10, 1961 at St. Mary's Cathedral and began his first 
assignment at the Most Holy Redeemer Parish in San Francisco. He served 
at St. Patrick's in Larkspur, St. Matthew's in San Mateo, St. Brigid's 
in San Francisco and Mater Dolorosa Church in South San Francisco 
before being appointed by Archbishop Quinn in 1986 to serve as fifth 
Pastor of St Vincent de Paul Church in San Francisco.
  St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church was founded in 1901, also called 
the ``Church of Cow Hollow'' for its oldest neighborhood, ``Church of 
the Exposition'' for the Panama Pacific International Exposition that 
took place largely in the Marina District and the ``Church of the 
Earthquakes'' since it withstood both of San Francisco's big 
earthquakes.
  The 1989 earthquake was a momentous event in the history of the St. 
Vincent de Paul parish because much of the damage was sustained in the 
Marina District, including considerable structural damage to the church 
itself. On the Friday following the earthquake Archbishop John Quinn 
offered mass at the church. Father Ring presided over the church's 
renovation which was celebrated at the Feast of St. Vincent de Paul on 
September 27, 1991. Both the new altar and the new pipe organ were 
dedicated by Archbishop Quinn in 1993.
  As Pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Church, Father Ring stressed the 
need to involve the laity in decision and policy making. During his 
Pastorate there were many beginnings, including a mass for young 
adults, a group of Home Visitors to care for the sick and homebound in 
the parish, and beyond, and girls were allowed to be altar servers.
  Father Ring formed a Parish Finance Committee and worked to stabilize 
St. Vincent de Paul School that has become a highly regarded parochial 
school in San Francisco.
  The individuals and families in Father Ring's parish have been 
blessed with a Pastor who has strengthened their church and school, 
built community, and inspired their love for service and their love for 
God.
  On a personal note, my husband Paul's parents John and Corinne Pelosi 
became parishioners of St. Vincent de Paul in the 1930s and our family 
has had a relationship with this parish for over 70 years. Although 
Father Ring will be retiring he will long be an inspiration to our 
family.

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