[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 165 (Thursday, November 17, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1506]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING VISITATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY PARISH ON ITS 150TH 
ANNIVERSARY AND VISITATION INTER-PARISH SCHOOL ON ITS 125TH ANNIVERSARY

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                        HON. BLAINE LUETKEMEYER

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 17, 2016

  Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Visitation of the 
Blessed Virgin Mary Parish and Visitation Inter-Parish School in 
Vienna, Missouri. The parish will be celebrating its 150th Anniversary 
on June 17, 2017 and the school will be celebrating its 125th 
Anniversary in 2018.
   Reverend John Goeldlin, a Catholic missionary priest, became the 
first priest to provide Catholic services to the community during the 
mid-1850's. In the year 1859, the community of Vienna came together for 
its first Catholic worship service. Then in 1867, the first official 
Catholic church was built for the parishioners of Vienna. Vienna, 
Missouri is a small town with around 614 residents and they were 
thankful for a parish in their community. As the congregation began 
growing, a new church was built in 1885 to accommodate the additional 
parishioners. Reverend John Fugel was assigned in 1896 to lead the 
church and would remain the priest at Blessed Virgin Mary Parish for 
the next 40 years. In 1903 the first county Catholic newspaper, called 
the Home Adviser, was founded by Reverend Fugel. Starting in 1904 and 
finishing in 1909, Reverend Fugel led the parishioners in building a 
new Catholic church. This structure is still being used today. On 
September 8, 1909, Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish was 
dedicated by the parishioners and Reverend Fugel. Currently, Reverend 
Matthew Flatley is the parish priest.
   For the children in the surrounding community, education was 
important so the first Visitation Inter-Parish School was established 
in 1893. The parishioners of Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary 
Parish celebrated the opening of their new Catholic school building in 
1926. To ensure its students would have a solid Catholic education, in 
1953, the parish decided to build a convent for the Sisters Adorers of 
the Most Precious Blood who would teach the children. Throughout the 
years, Visitation Inter-Parish School has helped shape the lives of 
more than 1,000 students. The Visitation Inter-Parish School will be 
celebrating their 125th Anniversary in 2018.
   I ask you to join me in recognizing Visitation of the Blessed Virgin 
Mary Parish and Visitation Inter-Parish School on this momentous 
occasion of their 150th and 125th Anniversaries. The historic past and 
promising future of support, love, and encouragement that the church 
and school have provided to the community will not be forgotten.

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