[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 153 (Wednesday, November 3, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S13836]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             IN HONOR OF REVEREND MONSIGNOR ANDREW P. LANDI

 Mr. MOYNIHAN. Mr. President, I rise to pay tribute to Reverend 
Monsignor Andrew P. Landi, a son of New York and internationally known 
humanitarian, who was taken from us this past September. He was 92.
  Monsignor Landi was the retired assistant executive director and of 
Catholic Relief Services in New York City from 1966 to 1979. Upon of 
his retirement he was named assistant treasurer, a position he held 
until the time of his death. Monsignor devoted himself to the service 
of the poor and disposed throughout the world regardless of race, 
creed, or nationality.
  Catholic Relief Services was founded in 1943 by the Catholic Bishops 
of the United States to alleviate suffering by removing its causes and 
promoting social justice beyond our boarders. Their mission is to aid 
in the development of people by fostering charity and justice 
throughout the world. Monsignor Landi's devotion to this mission was 
ceaseless.
  At a time when we are increasingly egocentric, we would do well to 
remember a man whose ministry to the disadvantaged was distinguished as 
a no other for faithful and untiring service. I wish to highlight the 
central role he played as a petitioner for overseas relief activities 
to numerous Federal agencies and Congress. He met with nearly every 
Pope since Pope Pius XII and counted Mother Teresa among his friends.
  This champion of the downtrodden was sent to Rome in 1944 to minister 
to the victims of World War II. He spent the next two decades providing 
haven to refuges of civil strife and natural disasters. He was named 
the Regional Director of the Catholic Relief Services for Europe, the 
Middle East, and North Africa in 1962.
  Monsignor Landi began his vocation as a parish priest at Our Lady of 
the Scapular and St. Stephen's Church in Manhattan in 1934. St. 
Stephens was at one time the largest Catholic parish in New York City. 
It is a special New York treasure as it contains several works by 19th 
century Italian Painter Constantino Brumidi who is best know for having 
done much of the artwork on display in the United States Capitol.
  In 1939, Monsignor Landi became the associate director of Catholic 
Charities in Brooklyn, NY. As I recently noted, Catholic Charities of 
the Brooklyn-Queens Diocese is the largest Roman Catholic human 
services agency in the nation. Perhaps on earth.
  One of seven children orphaned after the death of their mother in 
1913, he focused his mission toward young people. His benevolence 
toward the troubled youth of Brooklyn was exceptional.
  During Monsignor Landi's 65 years in the priesthood he received 
numerous honors from several governments and organizations. He was 
honored by our own New York State Assembly which issued a citation on 
the his 90th birthday in recognition his humanitarian efforts.
  In closing I would like to express my deep gratitude to Monsignor 
Landi for his life long commitment to ending social injustice 
especially toward children living in poverty. His distinguished 
devotion to God and his fellow man is a model to us all.

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