[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 2322]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            TRIBUTE TO SAINTS PETER AND PAUL CATHOLIC PARISH

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOHN SHIMKUS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 24, 2007

  Mr. SHIMKUS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Saints Peter and 
Paul Catholic Parish in my hometown of Collinsville, Illinois, on their 
150th anniversary. The parish is a part of the Diocese of Springfield, 
Illinois.
  The first church was built in 1856 on the land that is still owned by 
the parish. The first pastor of the church, Father W. Repis, came in 
November 1857. The parish is currently ministered by Rev. John 
Beveridge, pastor since 1999, and Rev. Aloysius O. Ndeanaefo, parochial 
vicar.
  In 1863, grounds for the cemetery were purchased. In 1879, the Parish 
school was opened, and it remains committed to a Christian education 
today.
  On December 31, 2005, the parish began celebrating their 
sesquicentennial. After a full year of special events, a concluding 
mass will be celebrated by Bishop George Lucas on January 14, 2007.
  I am pleased to congratulate Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Parish on 
this accomplishment. May God bless Saints Peter and Paul Catholic 
Parish.

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