[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 153 (Thursday, November 17, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2390]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING THE VERY REVEREND JOSEPH MARTIN OF WILKES-BARRE, PENNSYLVANIA, 
        AS HE CELEBRATES THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS ORDINATION

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                         HON. PAUL E. KANJORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 17, 2005

  Mr. KANJORSKI, Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed 
colleagues in the House of Representative to pay tribute to Very Rev. 
Joseph Martin of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, who is celebrating the 
40th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood.
  Father Martin was born in Frackville, a son of the late Joseph P. 
Martin and Anna Martin. He was the eldest of five brothers.
  He married the former Glora Matechak of Old Forge and the couple are 
the parents to four daughters. They also have eight grandchildren.
  Father Martin was ordained by HIS Eminence Archbishop Kiprian on 
November 7, 1965 at St. Tikhon's Monastery in South Canaan, 
Pennsylvania.
  He was assigned to Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in McAdoo where he 
served for 30 years. He was awarded the Hold Cross, Jeweled Cross and 
the St. Innocent Bronze Medal. He was also elevated to Archpriest.
  While at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, he also served as acting 
rector of Holy Ghost Orthodox Church, Shenandoah; St. Mary's Orthodox 
Church, St. Clair; Ss. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church, Minersville and 
St. Michael's Orthodox Church, Mt. Carmel.
  He served on the Diocesan Council for the Diocese of Philadelphia and 
Eastern Pennsylvania and the Metropolitan Council for the Orthodox 
Church in America. He was a past spiritual advisor for the Central 
Pennsylvania District Federated Orthodox Clubs of America and national 
spiritual advisor for eight years for FOCA.
  He served on the board of directors of the Hazleton chapter of the 
American Automobile Association, Hazleton Chapter American Red Cross 
and he is still a board member for Mid-Atlantic AAA.
  Father Martin has always been very active in community projects. He 
was a member and trustee of the McAdoo Fire Company where he is still 
remembered as ``Padre.'' He helped coordinate the borough food pantry, 
was a member and past president of the McAdoo Lions Club and he served 
as District Governor of the Lions District 14U.
  In 1995, Father Martin was assigned to Holy Resurrection Orthodox 
Cathedral in Wilkes-Barre. Since then, he was instrumental in helping 
reorganize the Wilkes-Barre Lions Club and he served as its charter 
president. He is a Melvin Jones Fellow, a Lions International award, 
and is currently chaplain of the Lions District 14W.
  He serves as chief of chaplains at the Wilkes-Barre V A Medical 
Center, is president of the Wyoming Valley Council of Churches, serves 
on the pastoral advisory board of the John Heinz Rehabilitation Center, 
is a member of the board of trustees of St. Tikhon's Monastery, is a 
member of the Diocesan Council, St. Tikhon's Alumni Association, St. 
Tikhon's Century Association and the Fellowship of Orthodox Stewards.
  And while he remains an extremely active person in the community, he 
still finds time to cook and bake for parish dinners because no job is 
too big or small for ``Father Joe.''
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating Father Martin on this 
milestone in his life. Father Martin has enriched the lives of so many 
by demonstrating selfless and humble service to his fellow man in the 
manner that his Lord and Savior did 2,000 years ago.

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