[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15397]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 IN RECOGNITION OF THE 110TH ANNIVERSARY OF ST. JOHN NEPOMUCENE PARISH 
                           IN CLEVELAND, OHIO

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 16, 2012

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of 
St. John Nepomucene Parish of Cleveland, as they celebrate 110 years of 
worship and service. St. John Nepomucene is one of only two Czech 
congregations left in the Cleveland Catholic Diocese.
  In 1898, 200 Catholic Americans of Czech heritage met at the East 
52nd Street home of Frank Stepanik. The gathering, organized by John 
Jira and Charles Vana, sparked the beginnings of a new parish. In 1902, 
St. John Nepomucene Parish was established. Parish members were also 
focused on the welfare of their children. To preserve the culture, 
history and language of their Eastern European homeland for their 
children, members organized again to establish a school. In 1903, St. 
John Nepomucene School was established, with an enrollment of 300 
students.
  As immigrants navigated their way through the difficult transition 
toward assimilation in America, St. John Nepomucene served as a haven 
of security, faith, support and assistance. As immigrants embraced the 
freedoms and ideals of their new nation, St. John Nepomucene served as 
a bridge between two worlds--connecting Fleet Avenue to their homeland 
across the ocean.
  Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honor, recognition and 
celebration of the generations of spiritual leaders and parishioners 
who founded, supported and sustained St. John Nepomucene Church for 110 
years. The leaders and members of St. John Nepomucene Parish, past and 
present, continue their tradition of providing faith and hope to 
individuals and families throughout Slavic Village.

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