[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 22300]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



   IN HONOR OF THE OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL CHURCH PARISH ELEMENTARY 
                       SCHOOL'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY

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                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 22, 1999

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Our Lady of Mount 
Carmel Church as it celebrates its 50th anniversary of the opening and 
building of the parish elementary school on September 22, 1999.
  On September 6, 1949, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church opened its 
doors to the Cleveland community under the leadership of its first 
pastor, Father Vincent Caruso, O.de M. Father Vincent Caruso, who on 
this day celebrates his 94th birthday, was born on September 22, 1905 
in Italy. He was ordained as a Priest on September 24, 1927 in Orvieto, 
Italy. He then made the long journey across the Atlantic to the United 
States in 1927 and was assigned to Saint Rocco where he soon began to 
take on more responsibility at Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Father Vincent 
Caruso, realized the need for a Catholic School to teach children of 
the parish neighborhood about the Gospel and give them a solid 
education so that they may grow up to live and know their human 
dignity. Father Vincent Caruso continued his service to the community 
which culminated in the opening of the Our Lady of Mount Carmel School 
for elementary students on September 6, 1949.
  Trinitarians Sister Mary Valentine Delfino was the first principal of 
the school and has continued teaching and serving children ever since. 
She has taught all grades from 1 to 7. Sister Valentine Delfino was 
also a principal and teacher at St. Marian's in Cleveland, at Mother of 
Divine Grace in Philadelphia, PA and at Saint Rocco's in Cleveland. She 
is presently the regional delegate for the Sisters of the Most Holy 
Trinity in the USA, residing at the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in 
Euclid, OH.
  My fellow colleagues, join me in honoring Father Vincent Caruso and 
Sister Mary Valentine Delfino for their leadership and dedication to 
the children and the families of the Cleveland area. Their piety, 
sincerity and devoted service to God and to the local parish enabled 
the expansion and development of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Grade 
School which now celebrates its 50th Anniversary.

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