[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 12495]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       HONORING MONSIGNOR JOHN BRENKLE OF NAPA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 12, 2008

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
Monsignor John Brenkle on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of his 
ordination. Monsignor Brenkle has been a pillar of the community in my 
hometown, St. Helena, California, for 25 years.
  Monsignor Brenkle has had a long and distinguished career in the 
church. He attended St. Patrick's Seminary in Menlo Park, California, 
and was ordained on June 14, 1958 through the Archdiocese of San 
Francisco. He received his Doctorate in Canon Law from The Catholic 
University of America in 1962. He served as Chancellor of the Diocese 
in Santa Rosa until 1971, followed by two years of teaching in Zambia. 
He came to the Napa Valley in 1979 as Parish Administrator at Our Lady 
of Perpetual Health in Calistoga before being assigned as Pastor of St. 
Helena Catholic Church in 1983, where he has been ever since.
  Monsignor Brenkle stands out in the larger Napa Valley community as 
an example of the best aspects of his faith. He serves on numerous 
local boards, including Catholic Charities, the Board of Directors of 
Justin-Siena High School, Catholic Community Foundation, Community 
Foundation of Napa Valley, California Human Development Corporation and 
the St. Helena Mayor's Multi-cultural Committee.
  Monsignor Brenkle never fails to answer the call for the working poor 
and less fortunate in our community. He is a champion for Napa Valley 
farm workers and low-income individuals. He was a driving force to 
create a successful farm worker program for day laborers, and helped 
establish low income housing at three major sites in the Valley. Father 
Brenkle also founded a Hispanic Scholarship Program which has raised 
tens of thousands of dollars over the years. Father Brenkle continues 
to be a significant advocate for worker's rights and social justice, 
particularly in hospitals and vineyards throughout the region.
  Madam Speaker and colleagues, it is my distinct pleasure to 
congratulate Monsignor John Brenkle for his 50 years of service to the 
Catholic Church and the people around him, and to thank him for his 
innumerable contributions to our community. I join all those whose 
lives he has touched in wishing him many more years of fulfillment.

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