[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 73 (Friday, May 3, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E539]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                IN RECOGNITION OF SISTER SUZANNE TOOLAN

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                           HON. JACKIE SPEIER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 3, 2019

  Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor Sister Suzanne Toolan, a 
longtime force for education and social justice within my district. She 
is being honored by her friends with the Catherine McAuley Award for 
her dedication to the education of young women. I join in their joy and 
celebration of her decades in service.
  I first met Sister Suzanne while a student at Mercy Burlingame. She 
taught chorale, a subject for which I was singularly unqualified. 
However, as my fellow students noted, Sister Suzanne was a patient and 
inspiring teacher. The Mercy choir is known throughout the San 
Francisco Peninsula for its inspiring repertoire and joyful music, 
particularly during Christmas and other holidays. Sister Suzanne was 
the heart and soul of a generation of choral singers, providing 
spiritual and contemporary pieces for the girls to perform.
  Her role in chorale, and the impact that she had on students, was 
only one measure of her long career. Sister Suzanne is the composer of 
the hymn entitled, ``I Am the Bread of Life,'' a deeply moving piece 
that inspires Catholic and other Christian congregations around the 
globe. Sister put the words of Jesus to music in 1964 during her free 
period between two classes. The San Francisco Archdiocese was to hold 
an event and Sister wished to contribute.
  As she later stated, she didn't initially like her work so when the 
bell rang for her to go back to class she ripped up the song and tossed 
it into the wastebasket. A student, who was nearby, came out of the 
infirmary and said, ``What was that? It was beautiful!'' So, Sister 
retrieved the song, scotch taped it together, and submitted it.
  It may be irreverent to say so, but in January of 1964 the Beatles 
song ``I Want To Hold Your Hand'' hit No. 1 on the Billboard Top 100 
Chart. However, for many of us, that song couldn't hold a candle to 
Sister Suzanne's ``I Am the Bread of Life.'' The church has its relics, 
but in this instance the workpiece of the Beatles is the relic and that 
of Sister Suzanne is a perpetually inspiring song, translated into at 
least 20 languages, that reminds us of the everlasting. For her work, 
Sister Suzanne was called an ``Icon of the Second Vatican Council'' and 
received the Benedictus Award from the Liturgical Commission of the 
Diocese of San Jose, presented by Bishop Patrick McGrath, in 2016.
  As noted by her supporters and friends, Sister Suzanne is also the 
author of a book entitled Canticles and Gathering Prayers, a composite 
of services and canticles written for groups gathered in prayer. Her 
work allowed Catholics to understand their faith in the vernacular, 
making faith more accessible.
  Sister Suzanne is immensely well educated. She holds a master's 
degree in humanities and a second master's degree from San Francisco 
State University. She did compositional work at Michigan State 
University, liturgical study at the University of Notre Dame, and 
choral work with Robert Shaw at San Diego State University. She 
introduced Taize Prayer and worship to the West Coast in 1983. After 
her stellar career at Mercy Burlingame, Sister Suzanne founded 
Catherine's Center, a transitional house for women released from 
prison. It is a ministry of the St. Vincent de Paul Society of San 
Mateo County.
  I recently viewed a photo of Sister Suzanne during her era as a Mercy 
Burlingame teacher. She was swinging her baton and had a smile from ear 
to ear. Music has the power to inspire us to great deeds. Sister 
Suzanne conveyed that power in overwhelming force to impressionable 
minds seeking the knowledge of math, science, literature, and 
leadership. These are core subjects at Mercy Burlingame, and core 
subjects of any young woman seeking to come into her own as a young 
adult. Sister Suzanne never let them down. I know because I was one of 
those young women who was captivated by Sister Suzanne's powerful 
spirituality and joyful musical grace.
  As we reflect upon her life, I cannot offer her a musical analogy to 
illustrate her impact upon her students and the world. However, I can 
offer an historical allusion that I believe is apt. When Churchill 
spoke from the floor during times of grave crisis, Parliament was 
roused to act and the course of western civilization was sharply and 
famously revised. We know that the music of Sister Suzanne Toolan, both 
famous and less so, inspires millions. She has never held high office 
in civic life but instead chose to announce the glory of the highest 
office that any of us may attain. Who can doubt that her 
accomplishments will shape our civilization for hundreds of years to 
come.

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