Speech #1100078895

We look back historically. particularly (luring the Civil War. the Archdiocese had a very long history going back to that point in time. and during the war Archbishop John Hughes. who was a fervent defender of the Union and a personal friend of thenPresident Abraham Lincoln. he wrote to President Lincoln and Secretary Seward about the most effectual means for carrying on that war. At the Unions request. he visited Europe to exert his personal influence. especially in high circles in France. for the benefit of the national cause at that time. Another national cause the Archdiocese was strongly involved in was with the first wave of immigrants. predominantly Irish immigrants. to New York. The archdiocese developed programs to care for and assimilate those new immigrants to America. and was a precursor to the Irish Emigrant Savings Bank. later to become known as the Emigrant Industrial Savings Bank and Emigrant Savings Bank today. These organizations over the years have developed into a strong base of charitable giving to keep the traditions of protecting the poor and the neglected. something that the Archdiocese of New York continues to do today. In fact. the Cardinal and the archdiocese have been very outspoken proponents of comprehensive immigration reform to help those least amongst us in society today. something they continue to do in the strong 200year tradition of the Archdiocese of New York. It was also mentioned before that Elizabeth Ann Seton. the first saint born in the United States. also a New Yorker and the founder of the New York City Catholic school system. and the contributions that system has made to our country. Speaking as a product of there. having graduated from Power Memorial High School in 1980. which is no longer with us. but 53.