[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 19]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 26764-26765]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING THE WORK OF SISTER LECLARE BERES

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. RON KIND

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 30, 2003

  Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the work of Sister 
Leclare Beres from La Crosse, Wisconsin, in recognition of her 
retirement. Sister Leclare has worked tirelessly for many years as a 
nurse and a nun, aiming to provide all people with access to 
healthcare.
  Sister Leclare grew up in Elroy, Wisconsin. Living on a farm, 
surrounded by her large family, she learned early the importance of 
hard work and compassion to others. In the early 90s, Sister Leclare 
saw the medical needs of refugee immigrants and called upon the four 
area hospitals to sponsor a free clinic. The Indochinese Screening 
Clinic later became the St. Clare Health Mission. As the director of 
the St. Clare Health Mission, Sister Leclare has been a leader in 
providing health services to the poor in the La Crosse, Wisconsin area. 
In addition, she has worked in Guam and Jamaica as well as with 
organizations such as Place of Grace and the Salvation Army.
  Moreover, after she retires this fall, her dedication to the poor 
will live on as she plans to volunteer at the St. Clare Health Mission 
where she has served as its only director for ten years. I am pleased 
that her efforts and giving spirit have earned her multiple honors, 
including the Pope John XXIII Award from Viterbo College, the YWCA 
Tribute to Outstanding Women in the Medical Field, and the 2002 La 
Crosse Tribune Person of the Year.
  Aside from her amazing gifts in working with persons who are poor and 
sick, Sister Leclare has impressive organizational talents. She would 
regularly coordinate the 200 plus medical professionals and community 
volunteers who came each Tuesday and Thursday evening to serve at the 
St. Clare Health Mission. In this feat, Sister Leclare was able to 
bring together a community to address the needs of its neighbors and 
sought a solution to the limited access to healthcare that many 
Americans face.
  Mr. Speaker and my fellow Members of Congress, I ask that you join me 
in honoring the dedication and service of Sister Leclare Beres as she 
retires. She is a role model of service, compassion, and generosity, 
and we could all learn from her dedication.
  Thus, I would like to leave you with the words of Sister Leclare's 
successor, Sister Dawn Kutt. ``Sister Leclare's compassion for the poor 
and underserved dwells deep within her heart's desire. Her service to 
the poor is undertaken with joy and tender love as her gentle presence 
reflects God's love for each of them. She certainly brings the richness 
out of the poorest of God's poor.''

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