[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 14671]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PROTECTION OF THE VIRGIN MARY ORTHODOX CHURCH

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                        HON. PETER J. VISCLOSKY

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 4, 2011

  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I 
congratulate Protection of the Virgin Mary Orthodox Church as its 
congregation joins together in celebration of its 100th Anniversary. 
The congregation, along with Parish Pastor, Father Peter Bodnar, and 
Parish Council President, Nick Rozdelsky, celebrated this momentous 
milestone with a celebratory reception on Sunday, October 2, 2011, at 
the Saint Elijah Serbian American Hall in Merrillville, Indiana.
  Protection of the Virgin Mary Church was originally established in 
Gary, Indiana, on September 28, 1911, when a group of Slavic, Christian 
immigrants joined together with the goal of preserving Christian 
Orthodox religious traditions. At that time, many immigrants moved to 
Gary in search of employment opportunities created by the growing steel 
industry. The church services were first held at a rental location in 
Gary, but a lack of funds led church elder Kondrat Krenitsky to provide 
a room in his home for services to be held. After some time, members 
were able to secure a location for the church, and on September 8, 
1912, a new church was dedicated and consecrated in Gary, Indiana. The 
church became widely known as Saint Mary's. The first permanent pastor 
was Reverend Benjamin Kedrovsky, who held his position until 1957. 
Saint Mary's continued to grow, and in January 1962, a new church, also 
located in Gary, was consecrated by His Eminence Archbishop John 
Garklavs. Nearly four decades later, the church leaders and 
parishioners built a new church and relocated to its current location 
in Merrillville, Indiana, where services began in the year 2000.
  Other pastors of the parish throughout the years include: Father 
Sergei Garklavs, Father Peter Rozdelsky, Father John Zabinko, Father 
Thomas Brown, Father Blagoy Topuzliev, Father William Bass, and current 
pastor, Father Peter Bodnar.
  The parishioners of Saint Mary's Church have always been active and 
generous in their support of numerous civic endeavors, contributing to 
projects such as the construction of a Permanent Shrine in San 
Francisco for the Miraculous Ikon, the Holy Virgin Mary of Kazan, and 
the Midwest Diocesan Expansion Program.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my other distinguished colleagues 
join me in honoring and congratulating Protection of the Virgin Mary 
Orthodox Church of Merrillville, Indiana, on its 100th Anniversary. 
Through many hardships, the members of Saint Mary's have dedicated 
themselves to preserving Christian Orthodox traditions and spiritual 
beliefs. For their commitment to service, and for touching the lives of 
countless individuals, they are worthy of the highest praise.

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