E2274 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks November 19, 2008 

rather than halting or delaying progression of 

the disease itself or providing a cure. This 

form of medicine allows seriously and terminally ill patients comfort and relief from the 

pain of their disease. Palliative care educates 

the patient on symptom management, provides information about their illness, communicates with the patient and their families 

about their disease and provides them with 

emotional and spiritual support. Dr. Jones has 

served as the Hospice Medical Director and 

Ethics Chair of Saint Agnes Medical Center. 

She is a past president of the Fresno Madera 

Medical Society. She has developed an obesity prevention toolkit for medical providers 

through the California Medical Association and 

has been an advocate for cleaning the air 

throughout the San Joaquin Valley. Dr. Jones 

has also served as Chair of the Fresno Unified 

School District Wellness Policy and was a 

board member of the Central California Blood 

Center. 

Dr. Jones has been a tireless advocate for 

accessible healthcare particularly in West 

Fresno. Through various faith-based and community organizations she has assisted in promoting the awareness, prevention, and care of 

breast cancer. She is a strong believer that 

proper education and awareness in disease 

prevention is the key to keeping the residents 

of Fresno County healthy. Dr. Jones credits 

her success to her parents’ guidance. The 

family motto growing up was ‘‘Keep it real, roll 

up your sleeves and get it done.’’ She has 

held that motto close to her heart. 

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend 

and congratulate Dr. Helen Jones upon being 

awarded with the ‘‘Community Health Champions Award’’. I invite my colleagues to join 

me in wishing Dr. Jones many years of continued success. 

f 

TRIBUTE TO ST. BONAVENTURE 

PARISH 

HON. BILL PASCRELL, JR. OF NEW JERSEY

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, November 19, 2008 

Mr. PASCRELL. Madam Speaker, I would 

like to call to your attention the work of an outstanding religious institution, St. Bonaventure 

Parish in Paterson, New Jersey, which is celebrating its 130th Anniversary of dedicated 

service to its parishioners, and by extension, 

the greater community. 

It is only fitting that St. Bonaventure Parish 

be honored in this, the permanent record of 

the greatest democracy ever known, for all the 

spiritual home it has provided to American 

families, especially those just embarking on 

their path to the American dream, and the 

dedication to the entire community that helps 

keep this deeply rooted parish family growing 

towards the future. 

St. Bonaventure Parish was founded in 

1876 by a group of six Franciscans who had 

been expelled from Prussia by Otto Von Bismarck. They came to the United States and 

asked Bishop Michael Corrigan of Newark for 

a place to live and minister. Just then, a group 

of Carmelite priests who had been displaced 

from Bavaria returned to their homeland, leaving a partially constructed monastery on 

Ramsey Street in Paterson. The Franciscans 

moved to the building and in 1877 the bishop 

elevated the church to parish status. Soon the 

monastery was completed and the religious 

community built a parish church. St. 

Bonaventure’s was the area’s first Franciscan 

community, and served for many years as its 

center of activity. The monastery functioned as 

a seminary, a novitiate, a retreat house and a 

motherhouse of the Holy Name Province, established in 1901. Thousands received the 

Franciscan habit here and began their period 

of initiation into religious life. 

From St. Bonaventure’s, the Franciscans 

established dozens of missions and parishes 

in New Jersey and throughout the Eastern 

United States. Many others who studied at the 

monastery went on to serve abroad. The monastery once operated St. Anthony’s Guild, 

which published countless books and pamphlets here before its move to New York City. 

The parish has built its tradition by giving its 

parishioners spiritual roots in their neighborhood, providing a deep sense of community to 

those who have grown in the church, receiving 

their sacraments there, as well as welcoming 

newcomers to the surrounding area. The St. 

Bonaventure’s parish family has expanded 

throughout the years to include many parishioners who have moved out of the neighborhood, but return with their families to worship 

at the parish. Building on its legacy, it is looking to reach out to some of the newest residents around the parish, many of whom are 

from Central and South America, and just beginning their American journeys. 

They are seeking as they move into the future to see more parishioners young and old 

become involved in the church’s ministries that 

reach not only their faith community but the 

greater Paterson region. I am certain that St. 

Bonaventure’s will continue to thrive and enrich not only those who worship there but so 

many others in need throughout the area. 

The job of a United States Congressman involves so much that is rewarding, yet nothing 

compares to learning about and recognizing 

the efforts of wonderful, thriving community 

like St. Bonaventure Parish. 

Madam Speaker, I ask that you join all of 

the parishioners and clergy of St. Bonaventure 

Parish, all those whose faith has been enriched throughout the years, and me in recognizing the outstanding contributions of St. 

Bonaventure Parish to the church community 

and beyond. 

f 

HONORING KENANIAH THOMAS 

REISER 

HON. SAM GRAVES OF MISSOURI

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, November 19, 2008 

Mr. GRAVES. Madam Speaker, I proudly 

pause to recognize Kenaniah Thomas Reiser 

of Farley, Missouri. Kenaniah is a very special 

young man who has exemplified the finest 

qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 1028, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout. 

Kenaniah has been very active with his 

troop, participating in many Scout activities. 

Over the many years Kenaniah has been involved with Scouting, he has not only earned 

numerous merit badges, but also the respect 

of his family, peers, and community. 

Madam Speaker, I proudly ask you to join 

me in commending Kenaniah Thomas Reiser 

for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts 

of America and for his efforts put forth in 

achieving the highest distinction of Eagle 

Scout. 

f 

IN RECOGNITION OF JOYCE SANDERS UPON HER RETIREMENT AS 

PUBLIC RELATIONS MANAGER 

OF EMBARQ CORPORATION 

HON. JEFF MILLER OF FLORIDA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, November 19, 2008 

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, I 

rise today to recognize Joyce Sanders, who is 

retiring as Public Relations Manager of 

EMBARQ Corporation. Ms. Sanders has 

played a vital role in the community service organizations of Northwest Florida, and I am 

honored to recognize her achievements. 

Joyce Sanders moved to Northwest Florida 

in 1993, and she has been a community leader ever since. Her local leadership includes 

serving on the Board of Directors of the Fort 

Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce, the 

Board of Trustees of the Okaloosa County 

Economic Development Council, and the 

Board of Directors of the Walton County Economic Development Council. Ms. Sanders is 

actively involved with the United Way of 

Okaloosa County and the March of Dimes 

WalkAmerica program. She has been a mentor to numerous young women across Northwest Florida by working with the University of 

West Florida Small Business Development 

Center. Through EMBARQ, Ms. Sanders provides numerous scholarships to the UWF 

Women in Business Seminar and to underprivileged students at Northwest Florida State 

College. 

Ms. Sanders’ commitment to service can be 

seen through her numerous awards, including 

her selection in 1998 as Honorary Commander for the Eglin Air Force Base 33 Fighter Wing Program. This award recognizes the 

value of military and civilian partnerships, a 

fundamental component of Northwest Florida. 

Awards alone, however, cannot describe the 

true value of Ms. Sanders’ service to our area. 

In the aftermath of natural disasters Hurricane 

Opal and Hurricane Ivan, Ms. Sanders used 

her position at EMBARQ to place mobile telephone trailers throughout the affected regions 

so those displaced from their homes could 

contact their families and friends. Her courage 

in the face of these disasters exemplifies Ms. 

Sanders’ devotion to the people of our community. 

Madam Speaker, on behalf of the United 

States Congress, I would like to thank Joyce 

Sanders for her years of public service to the 

community of Northwest Florida. Vicki and I 

wish her and her family best wishes for continued success. 


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