[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 19908]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PARISH OF ST. MARY MAGDALEN IN HAZEL PART, 
                                MICHIGAN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SANDER M. LEVIN

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 25, 2003

  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing 
the 75th anniversary of the parish of St. Mary Magdalen in Hazel Park, 
Michigan. The history of St. Mary Magdalen is one that reflects a deep 
dedication of the community at large and its parishioners. Volunteers 
worked for decades to create not only a place of worship, but an 
institution.
  In 1928, the Catholic Church established a new parish in the growing 
community of Hazel Park. The first Mass of St. Mary Magdalen Church was 
held in the Odd Fellows Hall on Christmas Day of that year. Less than 
one year later, on Easter in 1929, St. Mary Magdalen Parish occupied 
their first new building.
  In 1932, the Sisters of Christian Charity arrived from Wilmette, 
Illinois. They worked hard to ready themselves for the first school 
classes to start in September of that year. Their first school 
buildings were purchased from the Clawson Board of Education, 
dismantled and reassembled in Hazel Park by men from the community 
donating their time.
  The Parish continued to grow, the first hall was built in 1933 using 
second-hand and recycled lumber. In 1958 the present church was 
completed, followed three years later by the convent. The next decades 
saw the establishment of a number of important traditions in the 
church. The first Fall Festival, now an annual event, was held in 
September 1971.
  Surely, since its establishment 75 years ago, St. Mary Magdalen 
Parish has continued to grow, flourish and serve the community of Hazel 
Park. It is indeed my great honor today to recognize those who have 
made it all possible.

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