[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 7097-7098]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              ST. RAPHAEL CATHOLIC SCHOOL 75TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. THADDEUS G. McCOTTER

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 11, 2011

  Mr. McCOTTER. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor and acknowledge St. 
Raphael Catholic School, located in Garden City, Michigan, as they 
celebrate 75 years of commitment to the education of the youth of our 
community and our country.
  Established in 1936 upon land generously donated by Ms. Florence 
Cowperthwithe, the meeting hall which became the first school was built 
using primarily donated materials, contributions and volunteer labor. 
The original windows were donated by the Sisters of the Immaculate 
Heart of Mary Convent. Undoubtedly, this demonstrates a literal truth; 
it is the people who build a parish.

[[Page 7098]]

  Father Anthony Kirchner, the second pastor of the fledging St. 
Raphael the Archangel parish, led the effort to convert the hall into a 
four-room school. Again, the labor and materials used were largely 
donated. The IHM sisters could no longer stay on and the Sisters of St. 
Francis agreed to take on responsibility for the school. They have 
remained diligent in their commitment. As the parish and the community 
grew, additional school buildings were built in 1950 and 1956. In its 
75-year history, St. Raphael's School has grown from a converted hall 
serving a handful of students to a campus with a capacity of 500.
  Mr. Speaker, for 75 years St. Raphael School has provided a Catholic 
education for students ranging from pre-kindergarten through eighth 
grade. Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the 
students, parents, faculty and alumni of St. Raphael Catholic and in 
recognizing their years growing in friendship, knowledge and God's 
spirit as part of our community and our country.

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