[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 40 (Thursday, March 8, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E489-E490]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING REV. DENNIS M. MOONEY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. PATRICK J. MURPHY

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 8, 2007

  Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise today to 
honor Rev. Dennis M. Mooney of St. Mark Parish in Bristol, Pennsylvania 
for being named Grand Marshal of the 19th annual Bucks County St. 
Patrick's Day Parade. Father Mooney is the chaplain for all Bucks 
County divisions of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and he is being 
recognized as Grand Marshal for his contributions to the awareness of 
Irish culture and tradition.
  Madam Speaker, all Bucks County residents look forward to the St. 
Patrick's Day Parade, especially those celebrating their Irish 
heritage. Being named Grand Marshal is a tremendous honor, reserved 
only for members of the community who are highly respected and revered. 
Father Mooney fits these criteria and as a member of the St. Mark 
congregation, I am proud to call Father Mooney my parish priest.
  Father Mooney was born in the Kensington section of Philadelphia and 
graduated from Visitation B.V.M. School and Northeast Catholic High 
School. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 21, 1977, with his 
first assignment to St. Agnes Parish in West Chester, Pennsylvania. 
After 11 years at St. Hugh of Cluny Parish in West Kensington, Father 
Mooney returned to St. Mark and the community is better for it.
  The 2007 parade, led by Father Mooney, will be held Saturday, March 
10 and will embrace the theme, ``Ireland, Land of our Fathers.'' As 
always, the event will feature traditional Irish song and dance, the 
beauty and grace of the culture brought to this country by men and 
women from the Emerald Isle. Madam Speaker, by holding this 
celebration,

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our community ensures that these customs live on, and for that we owe 
all the members of Bucks County St. Patrick's Day Committee a huge debt 
of gratitude.
  The committee has chosen the right man, in Father Mooney, to lead a 
parade that brings such pride and joy to Bucks County. Father Mooney 
has endeared himself to us all and has always been willing and eager to 
give back to the community. Madam Speaker, I would like to congratulate 
Father Mooney for being given the nonor of leading this parade, and 
thank him for his decades of service to the community.

                          ____________________