[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 18]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 24417]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                IN HONOR OF ST. INNOCENT ORTHODOX CHURCH

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, October 8, 2003

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate St. Innocent 
Orthodox Church on the 20th Anniversary of the founding of St. Innocent 
the Apostle to America Parish.
  Twenty years ago, a coalition of dedicated Orthodox Christians from a 
variety of ethnic backgrounds came together to practice their faith in 
a common language. These early members began holding biweekly services 
in the Community Room of Great Northern Mall and established committees 
to determine the growth and direction of the new parish. St. Innocent 
was chosen as the patron saint because the zeal of the missionary, who 
taught the Orthodox Christian Faith across North America and Alaska, 
would be an inspiration to the members of the new church.
  In 1984, the members of St. Innocent began holding services in a 
rented chapel in Westlake. Members established a church school program 
for children and adults and weekly bible studies. The church is also 
very active in outreach to the surrounding community. Each month, money 
from an extra collection is donated to charitable organizations or to 
families in need. Each Christmas, the parish supports at least one 
family in the community with gifts, food, financial assistance, and 
love.
  In 1997, St. Innocent Orthodox Church found a permanent home, and 
consecrated its new church structure in Olmsted Falls, Ohio.
  St. Innocent welcomes the diversity of its parish and combines many 
ethnic traditions into its services. I am confident that the growing 
parish family will flourish, and that the many services and activities 
it sponsors will continue to multiply.

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