[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 42 (Tuesday, March 7, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H2729]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       A WELCOME TO BISHOP ROMAN

  (Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, this morning we were blessed by 
hearing Auxiliary Bishop Augustin Roman of the Archdiocese of Miami 
deliver the opening invocation. My colleagues, Lincoln Diaz-Balart, Bob 
Menendez, and I welcome him.
  We have recently come to the floor to remind our colleagues of the 
great contribution that immigrants make to this country. Bishop Roman 
is another perfect example.
  Bishop Roman arrived in the United States in 1966, after having been 
expelled from Cuba by the tyrannical regime of Fidel Castro.
  In 1979, Bishop Roman became the first Cuban in 200 years to be named 
a bishop in the United States. The bishop holds advanced degrees in 
theology and human resources and serves as director of the ``Ermita de 
la Caridad,'' a shrine to Our Lady of Charity, which he helped create. 
He has been a spiritual guide for the people of south Florida during 
troubled times.
  Bishop Roman is also active in seeking freedom for the Cuban rafters 
detained at Guantanamo.
  When called by the local press a hero, the bishop humbly responded 
that ``a bishop, a priest is a servant, not a hero.'' This humility and 
compassion is what has made the bishop of one south Florida's heroes, 
or as he would put it, its servant.

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