[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 75 (Tuesday, May 8, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E985]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING REVEREND ANTONIO VALDIVIA

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 8, 2007

  Ms. LEE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life 
and work of Reverend Antonio Valdivia, Pastor of St. Louis Bertrand 
Parish in Oakland, California. Known affectionately to his 
parishioners, and throughout his community, simply as Father Tony, he 
has served as a priest in the Catholic Church for over 44 years. Today, 
the St. Louis Bertrand Parish and the Oakland community come together 
to thank him for his leadership and service on the occasion of his 
retirement.
  The son of first-generation immigrants from Jalisco, Mexico, Father 
Tony was born in Oakland. Growing up in West Oakland, he attended St. 
Joseph Parish, which later merged with St. Andrew Parish and is now 
part of the Catholic Parish of Christ the Light. During his childhood, 
Father Tony spent every Sunday at the parish church, attending morning 
Mass and then returning in the evening for Benediction. One day a 
priest picked him to be an altar server, and this began his journey 
into the religious vocation.
  Father Tony attended elementary school at Old St. Mary's Parish and 
was taught by the Holy Names Sisters. Later he studied at St. Patrick's 
Seminary and University in Menlo Park where he was one of the few 
Hispanic seminarians on campus, and the only student from West Oakland. 
He enjoyed his experience in the seminary, particularly his studies in 
English literature and philosophy.
  Father Tony was especially drawn to studies that presented a model of 
Church as being present in the life of the people. While in school he 
worked to put those teachings into practice, guiding people as they 
struggled through the changes in the liturgy, the birth of parish 
councils, and the development of lay leadership. He also walked with 
them through the pain of the civil rights era, the Vietnam War, the 
advent of widespread drug use, the emergence of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, 
and the continuing and often tumultuous dialogue over the issue of 
immigration.
  During his 44 years as a priest, Father Valdivia served as pastor of 
five parishes: St. Anthony in Oakland, St. Leonard (now Our Lady of 
Guadalupe) in Fremont, St. Cornelius in Richmond, St. Catherine in 
Martinez, and at St. Louis Bertrand since 2003. In addition to serving 
as vicar of the diocesan Hispanic community, he also served as an 
associate pastor, as well as a member of the diocesan Pastoral 
Leadership Placement Board.
  Father Tony holds a master's degree in counseling and has used those 
skills to counsel at-risk youth at public schools throughout the Bay 
Area. He also put that training to use as a missionary in the 
Archdiocese of San Salvador from 1991-93, serving as an advocate for 
peace and justice in a community that was being ravaged by civil war.
  I have known Father Tony for many years, and it has always been a 
pleasure to work with him in the service of my constituents. He is an 
unwavering advocate for human rights, labor rights, immigration reform, 
peace and social justice. His commitment to his parishioners and to the 
people of Oakland has had a positive impact on countless lives. Today I 
join the St. Louis Bertrand Parish, along with our entire community, in 
thanking and saluting Reverend Antonio Valdivia for his profound 
contributions to California's 9th Congressional District, our country 
and our world.

                          ____________________