[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 18]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 24263-24264]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO ST. BONAVENTURE PARISH

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BILL PASCRELL, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 19, 2008

  Mr. PASCRELL. Madam Speaker, I would like to call to your attention 
the work of an outstanding religious institution, St. Bonaventure 
Parish in Paterson, New Jersey, which is celebrating its 130th 
Anniversary of dedicated service to its parishioners, and by extension, 
the greater community.
  It is only fitting that St. Bonaventure Parish be honored in this, 
the permanent record of the greatest democracy ever known, for all the 
spiritual home it has provided to American families, especially those 
just embarking on their path to the American dream, and the dedication 
to the entire community that helps keep this deeply rooted parish 
family growing towards the future.
  St. Bonaventure Parish was founded in 1876 by a group of six 
Franciscans who had been expelled from Prussia by Otto Von Bismarck. 
They came to the United States and asked Bishop Michael Corrigan of 
Newark for a place to live and minister. Just then, a group of 
Carmelite priests who had been displaced from Bavaria returned to their 
homeland, leaving a partially constructed monastery on Ramsey Street in 
Paterson. The Franciscans moved to the building and in 1877 the bishop 
elevated the church to parish status. Soon the monastery was completed 
and the religious community built a parish church. St. Bonaventure's 
was the area's first Franciscan community, and served for many years as 
its center of activity. The monastery functioned as a seminary, a 
novitiate, a retreat house and a motherhouse of the Holy Name Province, 
established in 1901. Thousands received the Franciscan habit here and 
began their period of initiation into religious life.
  From St. Bonaventure's, the Franciscans established dozens of 
missions and parishes in New Jersey and throughout the Eastern United 
States. Many others who studied at the monastery went on to serve 
abroad. The monastery once operated St. Anthony's Guild, which 
published countless books and pamphlets here before its move to New 
York City.
  The parish has built its tradition by giving its parishioners 
spiritual roots in their neighborhood, providing a deep sense of 
community to those who have grown in the church, receiving their 
sacraments there, as well as welcoming newcomers to the surrounding 
area. The St. Bonaventure's parish family has expanded throughout the 
years to include many parishioners who have moved out of the 
neighborhood, but return with their families to worship at the parish. 
Building on its legacy, it is looking to reach out to some of the 
newest residents around the parish, many of whom are from Central and 
South America, and just beginning their American journeys.

[[Page 24264]]

  They are seeking as they move into the future to see more 
parishioners young and old become involved in the church's ministries 
that reach not only their faith community but the greater Paterson 
region. I am certain that St. Bonaventure's will continue to thrive and 
enrich not only those who worship there but so many others in need 
throughout the area.
  The job of a United States Congressman involves so much that is 
rewarding, yet nothing compares to learning about and recognizing the 
efforts of wonderful, thriving community like St. Bonaventure Parish.
  Madam Speaker, I ask that you join all of the parishioners and clergy 
of St. Bonaventure Parish, all those whose faith has been enriched 
throughout the years, and me in recognizing the outstanding 
contributions of St. Bonaventure Parish to the church community and 
beyond.

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