[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 9841]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     HONORING ST. CLETUS PARISH OF LA GRANGE, ILLINOIS ON ITS 60TH 
                 ANNIVERSARY AS A FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DANIEL LIPINSKI

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 22, 2011

  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor St. Cletus Parish on 
its 60th anniversary as a community of faith in La Grange, Illinois. I 
express my admiration and appreciation of St. Cletus' commitment to 
upholding the values and practices of the Roman Catholic Church and its 
congregation's devotion to charity and spiritual development. On July 
3rd, St. Cletus Church will celebrate 60 years of spiritual guidance 
and compassionate service to the 3rd District and the Chicago-area 
community.
  A part of the Archdiocese of Chicago, St. Cletus offers ten masses 
weekly in addition to formal education through its school, religious 
education, and youth and Hispanic ministries. Each Christmas season, 
St. Cletus reaches out to the less fortunate in its inter-city sharing 
parish, St. Agatha's, and to other needy families. Through the parish's 
Advent Giving Tree, St. Cletus parishioners generously donate food and 
gift baskets to brighten the Christmas season for hundreds of needy 
families. St. Cletus' commitment to service extends beyond the holiday 
season as well. The St. Cletus Food Pantry distributes bags of 
groceries provided by parishioners to hundreds of less fortunate 
families in local communities. Through these services, the St. Cletus 
community upholds the Catholic ideals of love, sacrifice, and charity.
  Because many of the original members of St. Cletus were returning 
World War II veterans, the parish has always been strongly patriotic. 
The Parish honors veterans from all over the area every year on July 
4th with a special Mass which I am proud to participate in.
  From its campus in La Grange, St. Cletus fosters a community of 
compassionate believers and followers of Jesus Christ, welcoming all to 
join its family of faith. I am proud to honor St. Cletus' commitment to 
providing spiritual nourishment through worship, the celebration of the 
sacraments, education, and service to the 3rd District of Illinois. I 
congratulate St. Cletus' pastor, Father Clark, and the entire parish 
community, and I know St. Cletus will continue to be a valuable 
spiritual asset to La Grange and the Chicago region for years to come.

                          ____________________