[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 2738]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                   HONORING ARCHBISHOP EDWARD M. EGAN

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. FELIX J. GRUCCI, JR.

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 1, 2001

  Mr. GRUCCI. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today 
to congratulate the Most Reverend Edward M. Egan, Archbishop of New 
York upon his elevation to the dignity of Cardinal.
  The Most Reverend Edward Egan is only the seventh Archbishop of New 
York to be named a Cardinal in the last one hundred and twenty five 
years. He was born on April 2, 1932, in Oak Park, Illinois. Having 
earned his Bachelor's in Philosophy from Saint Mary of the Lake 
Seminary in Mundelein, Illinois, he was sent to Rome to complete his 
seminary studies at Pontifical North American College in Vatican City. 
In 1958, he received a Licentiate in Sacred Theology from the 
Pontifical Gregorian University.
  After ordination in Rome, he returned to the United States where he 
was assigned to the staff of Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago and the 
following year was named Secretary and Master of Ceremonies to Cardinal 
Albert Meyer. He was also named Assistant Chancellor.
  From 1960 to 1965, Cardinal Archbishop Egan was Assistant Vice Rector 
of the North American College in Rome.
  In 1972 he was appointed an auditor of the Sacred Roman Rota, which 
is the ordinary court of appeals for canonical cases appealed to the 
Vatican, particularly regarding the validity of marriage. He served as 
a judge of the Tribunal of the Rota from 1973 to 1985.
  He was named Auxiliary Bishop of New York on April 4, 1985, and 
served as Vicar of Education for the New York archdiocese. He was 
appointed Bishop of Bridgeport on November 8, 1988. Since coming to the 
Diocese of Bridgeport, Bishop Egan has overseen the regionalization of 
diocesan elementary schools, established active Hispanic and Haitian 
Apostolates, founded the Saint John Fisher Seminary Residence for young 
men considering the priesthood, reorganized diocesan healthcare 
facilities, and initiated the inner-city Foundation for Charity and 
Education.
  It's most fitting that Cardinal Egan is the successor of the late 
John Cardinal O'Connor. New York's new Cardinal is well aware of the 
legacy left by his predecessor and he is well prepared to continue and 
strengthen that legacy. He too is dedicated to the dignity of all 
peoples and to caring for those who are most scorned or ignored by 
society. Cardinal Egan has the wonderful ability to nurture and develop 
a sense of social justice among his fellow Catholics. As was the case 
with Cardinal O'Connor, he understands and deeply respects the values 
inherent in a multi-cultural and multi-religious community. He has a 
deep and abiding respect for and dedication to education.
  As he assumes his leadership role in the great Archdiocese of New 
York, it is right for us to wish him success in making this great 
community a more human, more caring and more believing community of 
Brothers and Sisters.
  Colleagues, please join me and all the members of the Archdiocese of 
New York in congratulating the Most Reverend Edward M. Egan upon his 
elevation to the dignity of Cardinal.

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