[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 22 (Wednesday, March 2, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E328]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                IN HONOR OF REVEREND GEOFFREY B. CURTISS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROBERT MENENDEZ

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 2, 2005

  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Reverend Geoffrey B. 
Curtiss on the 25th anniversary of his ministry at All Saints Episcopal 
Parish and the 30th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood. 
The parish will celebrate these important milestones at a service and 
reception on March 5, 2005, in Hoboken, New Jersey.
  During his years as a priest, Rev. Curtiss has gone above and beyond 
his duties to his parish. With incredible motivation and a sincere 
desire to improve the lives of others, he has diligently worked to 
build a network of support services and organizations that have helped 
revitalize and transform the community. Upon beginning his service in 
Hudson County, Rev. Curtiss oversaw the consolidation of three, local 
Episcopal churches into one, now known as the All Saints Episcopal 
Parish. From the beginning, the church established a precedent for 
being progressive and accepting and welcoming people from all stages of 
life and segments of the community. Under Rev. Curtiss's strong 
leadership and creative vision, the All Saints Episcopal Parish has 
become more than a place of worship for its nearly 300 congregants; it 
is well-known for its community outreach initiatives and ministries. In 
addition to the church, Hudson County benefits from related programs 
Rev. Curtiss has helped found such as the All Saints Episcopal Day 
School, the youth ministry known as WOODY, and the Jubilee Family Life 
Center, which offers an after-school program and summer camp for youth 
from the Hoboken housing projects.
  An influential member of the community, Rev. Curtiss has held 
numerous leadership positions in the past and continues to be greatly 
involved. For the Christ Hospital, Rev. Curtiss is the chair of both 
the Community Relations Committee and the Quality Improvement 
Committee, vice-chair of the Board of Trustees, and a member of the 
Transitional Committee. He is the president of the Episcopal Network 
for Economic Justice and treasurer of the Jubilee Interfaith 
Organization, which promotes immigrant rights and worker justice.
  As president of the Hoboken Clergy Coalition in 1982, Rev. Curtiss 
was instrumental in the establishment of the Hoboken Shelter for the 
Homeless. A past president of the Board of Trustees of the Hoboken 
North Hudson YMCA and past president of the Hoboken Rotary Club, Rev. 
Curtiss is still an active member of both organizations. He is also a 
member of the Diocesan Council, the Episcopal Urban Caucus, the 
Department of Missions Board, the Commission to Dismantle Racism, and 
the non-profit housing board known as the Union City Renaissance Urban 
Renewal Associates.
  Rev. Curtiss received his bachelor's degree from Gettysburg College 
and later graduated with a master's degree from the Gettysburg Lutheran 
Theological Seminary.
  Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Reverend Geoffrey 
B. Curtiss for his years of dedicated, selfless service to the 
community. His passion to help those in need and strong leadership 
cannot be matched--and his work has touched the lives of countless 
individuals in Hoboken and the greater community. We congratulate him 
on his important career milestones and we are grateful to have such a 
positive force supporting and serving the community.

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