[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 84 (Tuesday, May 22, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E710-E711]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                IN RECOGNITION OF SISTER TESA FITZGERALD

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 22, 2018

  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize 
the extraordinary achievements of Sister Tesa Fitzgerald, the 
powerhouse behind Hour Children, an exceptional organization that helps 
incarcerated women and their children in New York State. I am delighted 
to recognize her remarkable contributions at a slightly belated event 
along with Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas. Sister Tesa is one of New 
York's most inspiring, dedicated and compassionate leaders.
  After joining the Sisters of St. Joseph, Sister Tesa taught in a 
number of local Catholic elementary schools before becoming the 
principal of Saint Vincent DePaul School in Brooklyn. She was then 
appointed Curriculum Coordinator for the Diocese of Brooklyn.
  In 1986, at the request of Sister Elaine Roulet, Sister Tesa opened 
the doors of St. Rita's Convent in Long Island City to children whose 
mothers were incarcerated at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility. The 
convent was renamed ``My Mother's House'' and Sister Tesa and four 
other Sisters of St. Joseph in residence welcomed 8 children whose 
mothers were in jail. The children attended school, took dancing 
lessons, played on sports teams and, in the evening, had the sisters to 
help them with their homework. Each week, Sister Tesa would bring the 
children to the prison to visit with their mothers. There, she learned 
of the struggles of incarcerated women. She started volunteering to 
help the women--tutoring them, helping them prepare for release, 
helping them find their children and assisting in family reunification. 
These efforts grew into Hour Children, a Long Island City-based 
501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation.
  Today, Hour Children provides. transitional and permanent supportive 
housing to approximately 70 families at seven sites located throughout 
Queens. In addition, Hour Children offers a job training/reentry 
program; case management; therapeutic counseling; mentoring programs 
for children and adults; a fully-licensed day care center; an after-
school program; and a community food pantry.
  Hour Children also works inside Riker's Island, Bedford Hills and 
Taconic Correctional Facilities to provide parenting classes, pre-
release preparation, advocacy services, transportation and family 
visitation programs. At Bedford Hills Correctional Facility, Hour 
Children administers New York State's only nursery for infants born to 
incarcerated women,

[[Page E711]]

where mothers and infants can be together for the first year of life.
  Sister Tesa believes that her programs work because of two core 
philosophies: ``Change takes time'' and ``Love makes the difference.'' 
Her work on behalf of vulnerable women and children has been widely 
recognized. In 2015, Pope Francis bestowed on her the Pro Ecclesiae et 
Pontifice medal in recognition of her years of service to the church in 
the Brooklyn Diocese. In 2014 the Opus Foundation awarded her $1 
million in recognition of her faith-based humanitarian efforts. She was 
named a White House Champion of Change in 2013 and a CNN Hero in 2012. 
In 2004, she was named one of the 100 Outstanding Women of New York by 
the Daily News and in 1997, Irish America Magazine named her one of the 
Top 100 Irish Americans. Her work on behalf of the most vulnerable 
should put her on the top of anyone's list.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the 
outstanding accomplishments of Sister Tesa Fitzgerald whose vision, 
empathy and caring have improved the lives of some of our nation's most 
vulnerable women and children.

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