[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 100 (Wednesday, June 20, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1365]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO FATHER TODD UNGER

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GREG WALDEN

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 20, 2007

  Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a 
constituent of mine, Father Todd Unger, who is celebrating his 25th 
anniversary as a Catholic priest later this month. I join the 
parishioners of St. Peter Church in The Dalles, Oregon in 
congratulating Father Todd.
  Father Todd has served the people of the Diocese of Baker, Oregon 
with dedication and humility. He was ordained a Catholic priest for the 
Diocese of Baker, on June 29, 1982 in Redmond, Oregon--the town where 
he was born. His first assignment was as Associate Pastor in Pendleton, 
Oregon at St. Mary Catholic Church from 1982-1986. He rose to Pastor in 
1986 when he was transferred to St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in John 
Day, Oregon. He served there from 1986-1990. He served the next 8 years 
as Pastor of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Madras, Oregon. He 
undertook his present assignment, as Pastor of St. Peter Catholic 
Church in The Dalles, in 1998.
  In addition to his duties as Pastor at St. Peter Church, Father Todd 
administers St. Mary's Academy in The Dalles, a pre-kindergarten 
through eighth-grade school. St. Mary's Academy has been in continuous 
operation for 142 years providing an educational faith community for 
students in Wasco County, Oregon. During his 9 years at The Dalles, 
Father Todd has twice been called upon to assume the additional duties 
of principal at the school, once for a few months and once for the 
entire school year.
  In addition to all of his church-related tasks, Father Todd has also 
been an active citizen in every community that he has served. In 
Pendleton, he was a member of Kiwanis and a Red Cross Swimming 
Instructor. In John Day, Father Todd again taught swimming for the Red 
Cross and began what has been a career-long interest in serving as a 
volunteer firefighter for the community. In Madras, he again joined the 
Volunteer Fire Department, and in 1994 he was named Firefighter of the 
Year. He also served as a member of the Central Oregon Council on 
Aging, was an active member of Kiwanis, and this time he taught first 
aid for the Red Cross. In The Dalles, Father Todd became a Rotarian, 
and again joined the Volunteer Fire Department. He was named 
Firefighter of the Year in 2000.
  Everywhere that Father Todd has gone, he has tirelessly ministered to 
the spiritual and physical needs of the community. He has added greatly 
to the quality of life in the communities he has served. Father Todd is 
a sterling example of what it means to be of service. I hope these 
words in the Congressional Record will serve as a small indicator of 
thanks from the citizens of the Second Congressional District of Oregon 
and our congratulations on his Silver Jubilee as a Catholic priest.

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