[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 5790]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            TRIBUTE TO SAINT HYACINTH ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

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                          HON. JOHN D. DINGELL

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 6, 2006

  Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Saint Hyacinth 
Roman Catholic Church, in Detroit, MI on its centennial anniversary. 
Since 1907, Saint Hyacinth has served as a place of worship and 
gathering point for the Polish community in Detroit.
  Saint Hyacinth was established in 1907 by a small group of Polish 
immigrants. At the beginning of the 20th century, this new parish 
served the large and growing Polish immigrant community in Detroit. 
During World War I, the congregation came together in order to provide 
solidarity for their brothers and sisters in Poland, as well as to 
contribute to the overall war effort. With a growing population Saint 
Hyacinth built a new church in 1924. This beautiful Byzantine-
Romanesque church building towered over all other local buildings, 
serving as a deep source of pride for the Polish community.
  World War II brought another opportunity for Saint Hyacinth to serve 
its country, community, and loved ones in Poland. With its strong 
connection to Poland, there was no doubt that Saint Hyacinth and many 
of its parishioners would play an active role in the American war 
effort. Their bravery and sacrifice was honored with an honor roll 
installed in the church vestibule.
  The post-War years brought change to the surrounding community, but 
Saint Hyacinth remained steadfast in its dedication to serving the 
community. Following WWII, then Bishop Monsinger Woznicki appealed to 
the Church's many Polish parishioners to retain their family names, 
instead of changing them, as had become the custom. He also called on 
his parish not to flee to the suburbs, but stay in the surrounding 
neighborhood.
  Saint Hyacinth was honored with its listing in the State of 
Michigan's Historical Site Registry on September 21, 1988. In January 
2001, Saint Hyacinth was honored by the City of Detroit and its 300th 
Anniversary Committee, with a Heritage Award. It also received a 
granite paver, inscribed in both English and Polish, on the Riverfront 
Promenade. This serves as a testament to the great contributions this 
parish has provided to the city of Detroit and its people.
  Mr. Speaker, for one hundred years Saint Hyacinth has served as the 
heart of Detroit's Polish community. Innumerable parishioners have 
passed through its doors through the years and the lessons they have 
learned helped shape their values and beliefs. Saint Hyacinth has stood 
as an example of all the hard work, determination, sacrifice and love 
that the surrounding community provides. For generations, the parish of 
Saint Hyacinth has turned a beautiful building into something much 
more, the heart of a community. I want to congratulate the congregation 
of Saint Hyacinth; the good works they have done serve as an example of 
all that a community can and should be.

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