[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 118 (Friday, August 3, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1433]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             IN HONOR OF SISTER MARY CECELIA HARRISON, FMS

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. SANFORD D. BISHOP, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, August 2, 2012

  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an 
inspiring woman of faith, beloved educator and spiritual leader, Sister 
Mary Cecelia Harrison, FMS. Sister Cecelia will be retiring after 25 
years of outstanding leadership as Principal of Mother Mary School in 
Phenix City, Alabama. On Saturday, August 4, 2012, Sister Cecelia will 
be honored with an appreciation luncheon at the Columbus Trade and 
Convention Center in Columbus, Georgia.
  Sister Cecelia, a native of Kingston, Jamaica, was born on May 7, 
1937, the ninth child of Philip and Agnes Harrison's ten children. In 
1956, she entered the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of 
Perpetual Help of Jamaica. She graduated from Boston College in 
Massachusetts in1966 and then assumed a variety of principalships in 
Jamaica and the Cayman Islands where she oversaw the increase of 
enrollment in several schools and was appointed Member of the Cayman 
Islands Board of Education by the Governor for seven years.
  In 1988, Sister Cecilia was assigned as School Principal and Program 
Coordinator at Mother Mary Mission School in Phenix City, Alabama at a 
time when the school was almost defunct. It had poor academic standing 
and low enrollment and plans were in place for its closing. Sister 
Cecelia was only too happy to take on this challenge. Within three 
years, Mother Mary School was thriving with increased enrollment, high 
academic standards and improved facilities.
  In her 25 years as Principal of Mother Mary School, Sister Cecelia 
has become an educational and spiritual mentor in the community. Not 
only does she contribute to the education of young minds but she also 
works to provide assistance to the needy within the community. Her 
generosity is flowing and never ending and her faith is strong and 
enduring.
  Mr. Speaker, one of the things I admire most about Sister Cecelia is 
her selfless determination to help others. While she was in the Cayman 
Islands, there was an area of land next to the school where she was 
Principal that was unusable because of its rocky and uneven terrain. 
Sister Cecelia wanted the children to be able to use this land for 
much-needed recess so in any spare moment she had, she would go out 
there and pick up the rocks one by one herself. Her dedication inspired 
others to help and within a year, Sister Cecelia had the area leveled, 
graded and cleared of rocks for the children to enjoy.
  Proverbs 11:25 says, ``A generous person will prosper; whoever 
refreshes others will be refreshed.'' Sister Cecelia has given her life 
to God and dedicated herself to the service of others. She has been 
blessed in many, many ways and enjoys watching the children she has 
mentored and nurtured grow into good, generous and hardworking men and 
women of faith.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in paying tribute 
to Sister Mary Cecelia Harrison for her legacy of selfless life service 
and her 25 years of dedicated leadership to Mother Mary School and the 
surrounding community.

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