[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 7697]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




THANKING SISTER IMELDA FOR THIRTY-FIVE YEARS OF GUIDANCE, SERVICE, AND 
                               LEADERSHIP

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DAVID VITTER

                              of louisiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 27, 2004

  Mr. VITTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Sister Imelda 
Moriarty, Principal of St. Catherine of Siena School in Metairie, 
Louisiana. Sister Imelda is retiring after thirty-five years of 
teaching at St. Catherine. She is a pillar of the Louisiana educational 
community and will be sorely missed.
  Sister Imelda began teaching at St. Catherine of Siena School in 1969 
with a class of forty-one students. She became principal in 1974, and 
she will retire as principal in May of 2004. Since the arrival of 
Sister Imelda, St. Catherine has become the largest nonpublic school in 
Louisiana.
  Generation after generation of children from the New Orleans area 
have attended and will attend St. Catherine. Under the guidance of 
Sister Imelda, thousands of students have received excellent educations 
and have become positive contributors to their communities. More 
importantly, these students have developed a moral, ethical and 
spiritual foundation to help guide them through life. It is through 
Sister Imelda's faith that she has become such a positive and powerful 
source in the lives of so many children.
  My wife and I are both personally affected by the retirement of 
Sister Imelda. Three of our four children attend St. Catherine, and 
Sister Imelda's departure will be a very emotional event for students 
and parents alike. Younger students will miss her open arms and candy 
jar (both always full). Older students will miss her quiet Irish brogue 
and countless forays onto the stage during plays and talent shows. 
Parents will miss her most unassuming air that always commands 
immediate respect from both parents and students. And, most of all, we 
will all miss her absolutely unwavering faith in God and dedication to 
our children.
  I come to the floor of the House of Representatives today to 
personally commend, honor and thank Sister Imelda on the occasion of 
her retirement from St. Catherine of Siena School. Sister, may the road 
always rise to meet you and the wind always be at your back.

                          ____________________