[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 25 (Thursday, February 11, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E220]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               TRIBUTE TO REVEREND FATHER ARMANDO BALADO

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                        HON. ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 11, 1999

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute today to 
an outstanding citizen and great man of God, the Reverend Father 
Armando Balado who will celebrate his golden 50th anniversary in the 
order of priesthood on March 24.
  Born in Havana, Cuba, Fr. Balado entered seminary at the young age of 
eighteen and was ordained by Cardinal Manuel Arteaga Betancourt and 
performed pastoral responsibilities in a number of Cuban towns for the 
next 12 years. Fr. Balado was one of thousands of Cubans tormented and 
persecuted by Fidel Castro and his imposed communist regime. By 1961, 
he and 100 Brothers of the Order of La Salle became some of the 
thousands of religious leaders who were forcibly driven to leave Cuba 
due to their faith.
  The U.S. granted Fr. Balado the opportunity of continuing his holy 
calling to the order of priesthood as he performed duties in Catholic 
churches of Los Angeles, Puerto Rico and Miami. Fr. Balado soon 
pastored a variety of churches throughout the state of Florida and 
assisted in the building of a parochial school in Miami. He remains in 
Miami as the appointed Pastor of St. Raymond of Penyafort where he has 
served for 11 years and where he is loved and respected by parishioners 
and the South Florida community.

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