[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 132 (Tuesday, October 2, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1677]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING SISTERS FRANCIS GERARD KRESS, EDWARD JOSEPH MURPHY AND 
       ALICE FRANCIS YOUNG ON THE OCCASION OF THEIR 80TH JUBILEE

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                           HON. STEVE ISRAEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 2, 2012

  Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize three remarkable 
nuns who have dedicated their lives to helping the poor and sick, and 
educating the youth of Long Island. These nuns, and the organization 
they are part of, represent the absolute best of all of us.
  Sister Francis Gerard Kress, Sister Edward Joseph Murphy and Sister 
Alice Francis Young, all nuns with the Sisters of St. Joseph of 
Brentwood, have served the communities in my district for the past 80 
years.
  The Sisters of St. Joseph of Brentwood's history in America began in 
Carondelet, Missouri in 1936, where the Bishop called on the Sisters to 
establish a school for the deaf. The Congregation soon spread from 
Missouri, and in 1856 the Sisters were called by the Bishop of Brooklyn 
to come tend to the needs of the city. Mother Austin Kean, along with 
Sister Baptista Hanson and Sister Theodosia Hegeman, came and 
established what is now the Sisters of St. Joseph of Brentwood, New 
York. Since the establishment of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Brentwood 
order, over 2,500 Sisters have served, with 588 of those Sisters 
currently serving or in retirement around the United States.
  All three Sisters are 80th year Jubilarians this year, and in that 
time have done tremendous things for our communities. Sister Edward 
Joseph Murphy has devoted her life to educating children, instilling in 
them a lifelong love of learning, as well as community service. As a 
part of the Order's English as a Second Language program, Sister Murphy 
helped some of the newest arrivals to our nation.
  Sister Francis Gerard Kress has been an active proponent of the 
environment and health care for her 80 years in the Order, even coming 
here to Washington D.C. to testify before the United States House of 
Representatives about the environmental dangers surrounding Newton 
Creek in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York. Her work to protect our 
world's natural resources has helped to shed light on the importance of 
the Clean Water Act and other environmental protection legislation to 
all Americans.
  Sister Alice Francis Young has dedicated her life to early childhood 
education, something we know is so important to the development of our 
young children. She helped start the first Head Start program in New 
York, worked as a professor of Child Study at St. Joseph's College of 
Brooklyn for over 40 years, and a Master Teacher there for 20 years. 
Sister Alice's work has impacted and bettered, both directly and 
indirectly, the lives of thousands of students in New York and around 
the country.
  Mr. Speaker, I could go on and on about the accomplishments of these 
three amazing nuns. They have worked to protect our environment both 
locally and nationally, provide key support to the newest members of 
our communities, and educate our children. Their work has been 
tireless, and I sincerely appreciate it.
  Mr. Speaker, these nuns have devoted their lives to bettering not 
just the communities in my district, but those around the nation. I 
would like the United States House of Representatives to recognize and 
honor Sisters Francis Gerard Kress, Edward Joseph Murphy and Alice 
Francis Young for their work, and to help me in congratulating them on 
their 80 year jubilees.

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