[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11955]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




CELEBRATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF QUEEN OF PEACE PARISH IN HARLINGEN, 
                                 TEXAS

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                           HON. FILEMON VELA

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 26, 2017

  Mr. VELA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Queen of Peace 
Parish as they celebrate 50 years of service.
  Located in the South Texas city of Harlingen, Queen of Peace Parish 
was founded in 1967 when the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus 
and Mary ventured from Fairhaven, Massachusetts, to Harlingen to 
establish their presence in the newly formed Diocese of Brownsville. 
Since its formation, the parish has focused on families, and that 
continues to be a cornerstone today. For 50 years, its members have 
volunteered time and energy to helping those most in need.
  The parish, through Fr. Regis Kwiatkowski SS.CC, inherited a tract of 
land designated for low-income housing development. The land was then 
sold to purchase a corner lot where the first rectory was built, 
originally just a farm house. Today the church building sits on that 
same piece of property, and September 2017 marks the anniversary of the 
congregation's presence in the community.
  Queen of Peace Parish has made a lasting, positive impact in our 
community, and they will continue to play a role in the improvement of 
South Texas. I rise today to congratulate them for their half-century 
of success.

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