[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 111 (Monday, August 2, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1719]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   THE PASSING OF FATHER PETER LAPPIN

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, August 2, 1999

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I deeply regret informing our colleagues of 
the passing of one of the most remarkable and accomplished residents of 
my 20th Congressional District of New York.
  Father Peter Lappin, the author of 17 books on Christian theology, 
has been considered the spiritual leader of the Irish community in my 
congressional district. He long served as chaplain to the Rockland 
County Ancient Order of Hibernians and was a longtime supporter of the 
peace process in Ireland.
  Father Peter Lappin devoted his life to the Salesian Fathers of which 
he was a member. He resided at the Marian Shrine and Don Bosco Retreat 
in Rockland County for over 25 years. He had first taken his vows as a 
Salesian of Don Bosco back in 1933, and lived in our Hudson Valley 
region of New York since 1961.
  Father Lappin, who was 88 years young when a heart attack claimed him 
suddenly yesterday, was born in Belfast. He attended the Belfast School 
of Technology, the Pallakenry College, and the Salesian College, 
Cowley, Oxford. Father Lappin then traveled to China where he continued 
his studies at the International School of Theology in Shanghai and the 
Salesian Studenate in Hong Kong. Father Lappin was finally ordained as 
a Salesian Priest in Shanghai, and subsequently he spent 16 years in 
Shanghai as a teacher and a parish priest.
  Father Lappin also studied at Fordham University and the Columbia 
School Writing, both in New York City.
  Father Lappin gained fame in many ways. In addition to his noted best 
selling books, including ``Stories of Don Bosco'' and biographies of 
contemporary Christian heroes, he was author of the ``Salesian 
Bulletin''. He was an editorial board member of ``The Biographical 
Memoirs of Saint John Bosco'' and was a lecturer on South America and 
the Far East. Father Lappin was active in the Knights of Columbus and 
in the Cambridge Society of Biographers.
  Father Lappin was widely regarded for his talent at writing 
children's books which expressed the Catholic faith in a manner that 
youngsters could readily understand. He has a tremendous impact on 
countless generations of young readers.
  Father Lapin's writings earned for him the Venice Festival awards, 
the Catholic Family Club award, and two Catholic Literacy Foundation 
awards.
  Mrs. Gilman and I came to know Father Peter Lappin over many years, 
as a result of his deeply felt passion for a permanent peace in 
Ireland. Father Lappin traveled to the emerald isle extensively in his 
quest for a lasting peace in his homeland. He devoted much of his life 
to a resolution of the troubles in the north, and closely followed--and 
supported--the recent peace initiatives for Ireland.
  In losing Father Lappin, Georgia and I have lost not only a fond 
friend but an outstanding advocate of peace throughout the world.
  Danny Withers, one of the more prominent of Irish-American leaders in 
my district, stated:

       Father Lappin was a great supporter of independence for 
     Ireland, and he used his God-given gift of the written word 
     to help garner support for this worthy cause.

  Father Lappin came to our Nation in 1961. He worked out of the New 
Rochelle headquarters of the Salesians for 11 years, traveling 
throughout our Nation and continuing his writings. He became a 
household word in Rockland Country for the past quarter century, due to 
his compassion, his love of all people but most especially children, 
and his dynamic personality.
  Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues to join with me in extending our 
condolences to Father Lappin's half brother, Father James Brawley of 
Australia, and to all of his fellow Salesian fathers. His were huge 
footsteps that will be difficult to fill.

                          ____________________