[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 14425]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   CONGRATULATING MONSIGNOR JOHN J. BENDIK AS HE CELEBRATES THE 40TH 
                     ANNIVERSARY OF HIS PRIESTHOOD

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. PAUL E. KANJORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 24, 2007

  Mr. KANJORSKI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed 
colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to Monsignor 
John J. Bendik, pastor of the parish community of St. Casimir, St. John 
the Baptist, St. John the Evangelist and St. Joseph in Pittston, 
Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, who is celebrating his 40th anniversary 
in the priesthood.
  Over the years, Monsignor Bendik has distinguished himself as a 
priestly shepherd to his many parishioners, and most especially, as a 
staunch advocate of education at all levels.
  A son of the late John and Helen Sterbinsky Bendik, Monsignor Bendik 
was born in Wilkes-Barre and graduated from St. Meinrad Seminary in 
Indiana before his ordination on May 27, 1967 by Most. Rev. J. Carroll 
McCormick, then bishop of the Scranton Diocese.
  Monsignor Bendik served parishes in East Stroudsburg, Stroudsburg, 
Delaware Water Gap and Bushkill. He taught at Notre Dame High School 
and ministered to the students at East Stroudsburg University. Later, 
he served as chaplain to students at College Misericordia in Dallas, 
Pa.
  During his long campus ministry, he served in many local, State and 
national leadership roles. He was the first president of the 
Pennsylvania Campus Ministry Association and was a founding member of 
the National Association of Diocesan Directors of Campus Ministry and 
the National Catholic Student Coalition. He served as team member for 
the Frank J. Lewis Campus Ministry Training School and also was a 
member of the Northeast Regional Ministry in Higher Education and the 
Associates for Religion and the Intellectual Life.
  Prior to his current assignment, Monsignor Bendik also served at Our 
Lady of Snows in Clarks Summit, St. Benedict in Newton Township and St. 
Mary of Czestochowa in the Greenwood section of Scranton.
  Monsignor Bendik serves on the Board of Trustees at College 
Misericordia, the Board of Regents of the University of Scranton and 
the Board of Trustees at St. Meinrad School of Theology. He has also 
served as a member of the Board of Pastors of Seton Catholic High 
School and the Greater Pittston Ministerium.
  Monsignor Bendik also serves in many capacities on the diocesan level 
including the post of Dean of priests for northern Luzerne County.
  Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating Monsignor Bendik on 
his 40th anniversary as a Catholic priest. His selfless service and 
wise counsel to his many parishioners and students will be forever 
remembered and respected. Monsignor Bendik has truly enriched the lives 
of so many as he has labored to improve the quality of life throughout 
his community.

                          ____________________