[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 1728-1729]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 COMMEMORATING THE 125TH ANNIVERSARY OF ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC CHURCH IN 
                           PENSACOLA, FLORIDA

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JEFF MILLER

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 10, 2016

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the 125th 
anniversary of the historic St. Joseph Catholic Church in Pensacola, 
Florida.
   St. Joseph parish of Pensacola traces its roots back to 1891, as an 
outgrowth of St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church and to the 
pastorship of Reverend Robert Fullerton. Although it was founded as the 
first African-American church in the Diocese of Mobile, St. Joseph 
Catholic Church cared not only for the religious needs of the Pensacola 
African-American community, but the church also served individuals from 
diverse backgrounds who wished to worship at the church. Whether in its 
original two-story wooden building or its current Gothic Revival style 
structure adorned with stained-glass windows and completed in 1894, the 
multi-cultural parish family has been blessed by the Word of God for 
125 years.
   During that time, the church underwent structural and pastoral 
changes, operated Maryall Negro Missions and four mission chapels, Our 
Lady of Fatima Mission School, a grammar school, at one point the only 
Catholic African-American high school in the state of Florida, St. 
Joseph orphanage that opened its doors to homeless African-American 
boys, and Our Lady of Angels Maternity Hospital for African-American 
women, as well as St. Joseph Cemetery. Today St. Joseph's ministry 
continues to care for the Pensacola community through the Our Lady of 
Angels Free Clinic, which serves the homeless and needy individuals 
throughout the area; the Caring and Sharing Outreach, which provides 
food and clothing; and the St. Joseph Soup Kitchen, which serves free 
meals to the homeless.
   One constant thread throughout its storied history, however, is the 
parish's strong faith in God. It is through their strength and that of 
the local community, guided by the Holy Spirit, that the church has not 
only stayed together, but has also grown strong through hardship. 
Whether faced with the Jim Crow laws or the natural disasters like 
Hurricane Ivan, which devastated the entire Gulf Coast in 2004, nothing 
could tear apart the bonds of this community. When faced with 
adversity, the congregation continually emerged stronger and remains 
today as a pillar in the Northwest Florida community, full of humility 
and compassion--the characteristics exhibited by its namesake thousands 
of years ago.
   Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to honor St. Joseph Catholic Church 
of Pensacola, its leadership and its congregants for 125 years of 
faithful service to God. For over a century St. Joseph's has been an 
integral part of the Pensacola community, my wife Vicki and I thank 
them for their dedication to the people of Northwest Florida and pray 
for their continued success. May God grant St. Joseph parish many more 
years to come and may His blessings continue to shine down on them.

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