[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 172 (Wednesday, December 12, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2264]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E2264]]
               IN HONOR OF FR. JAMES E. GOODE OFM, PH.D.

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 11, 2001

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Father James E. Goode, 
OFM, Ph.D. in recognition of his dedication and commitment to his 
community, his faith, and in his work in the battle against AIDS.
  Father James E. Goode, OFM, Ph.D. is the leading Black Catholic 
Evangelist in the United States. He is known as the Dean of Black 
Catholic Evangelists having preached the first Black Catholic Revival 
in America (1974). The first Black Catholic Revival was held at Our 
Lady of Perpetual Help Church in the Archdiocese of Chicago. Father 
Goode has preached all over the world and is one of the most sought 
after African American Catholic priests. Father Goode and Rev. Jesse 
Jackson preached at the Vatican during the Black American Voices in 
Rome celebration, an event that was sponsored by the Vatican and the 
City of Rome.
  Father Goode was an elected member of the New York City Community 
School Board in District 16 for two terms. He was the former President 
of the San Francisco Housing Authority Commission. He also headed the 
first San Francisco Mayor's Task Force on Drug Addiction and served as 
a Commissioner for Children, Youth and Families. He was also a 
Commissioner for the San Francisco Delinquency Prevention Commission, 
as well as the San Francisco AIDS Council.
  Father Goode is a native of Roanoke, Virginia and a proud Franciscan 
Friar of the Order of Friars Minor, Province of the Immaculate 
Conception in New York City (ordained May 13, 1974, NYC). He has earned 
his Doctor of Philosophy, with a major in Psychology, from Union 
Graduate School, his Master of Theology, from the University of the 
State of New York, St. Anthony Theological Seminary, his Master of 
Divinity, from the University of the State of New York, St. Anthony 
Theological Seminary, his Master of Arts in Educational Psychology: 
from the College of Saint Rose, Albany, New York, and his Bachelor of 
Arts, from the University of the State of New York, Immaculate 
Conception Seminary.
  He was the Founding Pastor of the Faith Community of Black Catholics, 
Our Lady of Charity (1974) in the Diocese of Brooklyn. Under his 
leadership this declining parish came alive and became authentically 
Black and Catholic. Our Lady of Charity became a model for Black 
Catholic worship, education, community outreach and ecumenism. Father 
Goode assisted the larger Black Catholic Community of Brooklyn by 
serving on many boards and councils. He was the first chairman of the 
Office of Black Ministry in the Diocese of Brooklyn. By God's grace and 
mercy and through Father Jim Goode's gift of preaching and healing, 
thousands have come home to the Catholic faith. His motto: ``Blessed 
Assurance Jesus is mine and no matter how hard the task or how 
difficult the moment I am ready to go in your name''. He is a longtime 
activist and leader of Social Justice and Peace. His untiring efforts 
to combat and correct some of society's most urgent problems have been 
his life's mission. This activism has led him to develop the 1st Annual 
AIDS Summit for Black Catholics on Saturday, December 1, 2001. The 
theme of the conference is: ``Lift every life, help is on the way.''
  Mr. Speaker, Franciscan Father Jim Goode's entire priestly life has 
been dedicated to the spiritual and psychological growth and 
development of his people. He is a voice for the voiceless in their 
quest for human rights. As such, he is more than worthy of receiving 
our recognition today and I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring 
this truly remarkable man.

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