[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 20335]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ST. FRANCIS de SALES CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MARCY KAPTUR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 14, 2005

  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize a milestone 
anniversary in the life of a school in our district. St. Francis de 
Sales Catholic High School is a college preparatory school operated by 
the Oblates of St. Francis which has been educating young men since 
1955. On Sunday, September 18, 2005, the school, alumni, friends, and 
our community will celebrate the school's 50th anniversary.
  St. Francis was the first college preparatory high school in Toledo 
and is well known for its academic excellence. Nearly all of its 
students go on to higher education. The school offers advanced 
placement courses so that more than half of graduating seniors complete 
their high school education with college course credit. As a result of 
this coursework, St. Francis has been named a College Board School.
  In addition to academic excellence, the school fosters a spirit of 
involvement that encourages participation in extra-curricular 
activities. St. Francis boasts champion athletic teams as well as a 
wide array of clubs in addition to a fine music department. Religious 
instruction is required all four years and students can regularly be 
found volunteering their time and talents in service to our community.
  Though the majority of students are Catholic, St. Francis' student 
body is comprised of students from all Christian faiths, Muslim and 
Jewish, Hindu, and all socio-economic backgrounds. This is a feature 
which makes the school uniquely different from others, and truly one of 
the school's strengths.
  St. Francis de Sales, the gentleman saint, taught his flock ``The 
person who possesses Christian meekness, is affectionate and tender 
toward everyone; he is disposed to forgive and excuse the frailties of 
others; the goodness of his heart appears in a sweet affability that 
influences his words and actions, and presents every object to his view 
in the most charitable and pleasing light; he never admits in his 
discourse any harsh expression, much less any term that is haughty or 
rude. An amiable serenity is always painted on his countenance. . . .''
  The school which bears his name in Ohio's Ninth District and which we 
today celebrate strives to imbue this same teaching in its students. It 
is echoed in the motto of the school: Suaviter et Fortiter, mildly and 
firmly.
  Today we recognize over a half century of the spiritual, 
intellectual, and social guidance of thousands of young men, known in 
our community as the Knights of St. Francis de Sales. Godspeed, 
Knights! Onward to another 50 years of excellence.

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