[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 196]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



  RECOGNIZING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CHURCH OF THE HOLY CROSS, 
                         SPANGLER, PENNSYLVANIA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN P. MURTHA

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 27, 2000

  Mr. MURTHA. Mr. Speaker, on December 17, 1999, the Holy Cross Parish 
celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Church of the Holy Cross, 
Spangler, Pennsylvania.
  Throughout our area and our Nation, we find such churches as the 
centers of our community, the fabric of our community spirit, and the 
strength of families. The Church of the Holy Cross has celebrated 2,735 
baptisms, 622 weddings. It has held 1,332 funerals to send its faithful 
home. These events chronicle the history of the families in the region.
  Plans for the present church structure were drawn by architect 
William East and built by John S. Drumm at a cost of $4,800 according 
to the contract signed on July 8, 1899. On December 17th of that year, 
the Rt. Reverend Leander Scherr, O.S.B., Archabbott, St. Vincent 
Archabbey of Latrobe, dedicated the church. It was served by the 
Benedictine Fathers of St. Vincent Archabbey until 1984 and since then 
by the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown.
  The strength of our great nation comes not from decisions made in 
Washington, but from the enduring community strength, family 
commitments and individual ideals to which our house of worship 
provided the central underpinnings. The Church of the Holy Cross has 
been a part of that national strength for one hundred years; an 
integral factor in the growth of our nation and our region of 
Pennsylvania.
  It is an honor for me to recognize the continuing role of the Church 
of the Holy Cross, of the church's twenty-fifth pastor, Father David J. 
Arseneault, and the individuals in the Parish that have made the Church 
of the Holy Cross endure for 100 years.

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