(BILL NO. 18-0109   Res. No. 1380)

 

Passed:  July 19, 1989

 

To Honor and Commend the Reverend Monsignor Michael Kosak

for His Many Contributions to the Virgin Islands.

 

WHEREAS, Reverend Michael Kosak was born in Brooklyn, New York on December 7, 1938; and

WHEREAS, Father Kosak graduated from high school in 1956 and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1957; and

WHEREAS, in 1966, Father Kosak earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy from St. Mary’s College in St. Mary, Kentucky; and

WHEREAS, after four years of additional studies, Father Kosak received his Masters in Divinity from St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore, Maryland in 1970; and

WHEREAS, on June 6, 1970, Father Kosak was ordained as a Roman Catholic Priest for the Prelature of the Virgin Islands by the Most Reverend Edward J. Harper, C.SS.R., Bishop of the Virgin Islands at the Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Brooklyn, New York; and

WHEREAS, Father Kosak was ordained the first Diocesan priest for the Virgin Islands; and

WHEREAS, on July 26, 1970, Father Kosak became the pastor of St. Ann’s Church, Barrenspot Hill, St. Croix, Virgin Islands and was appointed Director of Vocations in 1970; Director of Charismatic Renewal in 1977; Director of the Office of the Permanent Diaconate in 1981; Director of Communications in 1982; Dean in 1985; and Episcopal Vicar, St. Croix, which position be held until 1987: and

WHEREAS, Father Kosak was appointed to the position of Vicar General of the Diocese on July 30, 1987, and the title of Monsignor was conferred upon him by the Most Reverend Sean Oai1ey, OFM, on March 18,1989; and

WHEREAS, through Father Kosak’s ministry at St Ann’s Church, it has grown in stature from a simple country chapel to a significant parish in the community, which offers Christian education classes to children who attend public and private schools to enable them to receive religious instructions; and

WHEREAS, Father Kosak encouraged the training and involvement f youth in the music ministry of the church; and

WHEREAS, as Spiritual Director at the St. Joseph High School, with a primary focus on youths Father Kosak was instrumental in obtaining summer youth programs at St. Joseph’s in the early 1970’s for the youth of the St. Croix community; and

WHEREAS, Father Kosak presented evangelical seminars to the churches, first in St. Croix and then in St. Thomas and St. John, the impact of which spread to every island in the Caribbean and, since 1982, to Ghana, Uganda, Botawana, Kenya and Zimbabwe; and

WHEREAS, Father Kosak has been a member of the St. Croix Christian Council since its inception, holds membership in the Charismatic Renewal Fellowship and coordinates annual Pentecost Day celebrations, which celebrations have been a principal ecumenical event since 1980; and

WHEREAS, Father Kosak founded the Caribbean Catholic Network-Channel 19, a local cable television station with a view towards bringing local programming to the St. Croix community, and he was an inspiration to the Catholic Church on St. Thomas to lease and manage their own station, Channel 29; and

WhEREAS, Father Kosak has reached out to priests throughout East and West Africa and has encouraged them to come to the Virgin Islands to share their priesthood and to experience Virgin Islands culture; and

WHEWAS, as Caribbean Coordinator to Evangelization 2000 and Lumen 2000, Father Kosak, a member of an international team, is attempting to mobilize the Church for an intense missionary outreach in the last decade of this century; and

WHEREAS, on May 15, 1989, Father Kosak completed his 19th year as pastor of St Ann’s Church, Barrenspot. Hill, St. Croix, at which time he commenced his new ministry as Pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral Parish on the Island of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; and

WHEREAS, Father Rosak has earned the respect, admiration and gratitude of the people Qf the Virgin Islands for his many accomplishments and unselfish contributions to this Territory; Now, Therefore, Be it resolved by the Legislature of the Virgin Islands:

SectIon 1. The Legislature of the Virgin Islands, on behalf of the people of the Virgin Islands, hereby honors and commends the Reverend Monsignor Michael Kosak for his many contributions and dedicated service to the people of the Virgin Islands;

Section 2 A perma plaque copy of this Resolution shall be pre pared and presented to Reverend Monsignor Michael Kosak, by the

President of the Legislature, or his designee, at an appropriate ceremony held for that purpose.

 

                                                                                                Bent Laweatz

                                                                                                President

 

                                                                                                St. Clair N. Williams