[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 14 (Tuesday, January 29, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E109]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          CELEBRATING THE BIRTH AND LIFE OF FATHER D'AGOSTINO

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. GEORGE MILLER

                             of califoronia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 29, 2008

  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to 
commemorate the anniversary of the birth of Father Angelo D'Agostino, 
SJ, MD. Father D'Ag, as he was called by all who knew and loved him, 
was born on January 26, 1926 in Providence, Rhode Island. 
Unfortunately, Father D'Ag was taken from us in 2006. However, his 
birth is a cause for continued celebration as he was a living testament 
to the principle that one person can indeed make a difference.
  I have met many wonderful and inspiring people in my years of service 
in Congress, but there was clearly something very special about Father 
D'Ag, and I feel honored and, frankly, lucky to have had the 
opportunity to meet him in Kenya and in Washington. He made a lasting 
impression on me, just as he did on so many others throughout the 
world.
  In 1992, at a time in Africa when so many lives were lost to the 
scourge of AIDS, Father D'Ag set up the first facility in Kenya to care 
for HIV infected children known as Nyumbani, Swahili for ``home''. 
These children were orphaned by the loss of a parent from the same 
affliction or who were abandoned by parents who could not or would not 
care for an HIV-positive child. His first three children soon blossomed 
into a community of children, but they were dying at an alarming rate. 
Through strong perseverance and advocacy on behalf of the children, 
Father D'Ag battled the drug companies for affordable anti-retroviral 
medicines. He also battled the Kenyan government to allow the children 
into the public primary schools.
  Ultimate success on both fronts enabled him to manage the virus and 
start to chip away at the societal HIV stigma against these precious 
children. As a result, Nyumbani was transformed from a hospice into a 
program that nurtured the children's growth and development, thanks to 
the painstaking care and love that he and his staff gave to these kids. 
Nyumbani today has 107 bright children with loving hearts, beautiful 
smiles, and boundless energy on the soccer field.
  Despite this monumental accomplishment at Nyumbani, Father D'Ag did 
not rest after providing a home for HIV-positive children without 
parents. He went on to develop another program: Lea Toto, Swahili for 
``to raise the child'', to provide medical care and nutrition to HIV-
positive children who have parents but live in poverty in the many 
slums in and around Nairobi. Today there are approximately 2,500 people 
who benefit from this community outreach program and stand a chance to 
survive under extreme hardship because of Father D'Ag.
  However, Father D'Ag was not done. After reading the stories about 
abandoned street children that had been slain by police, Father D'Ag 
felt a need to expand his reach and protect the ever burgeoning number 
of street children in Kenya. He designed an additional program, one 
that pairs children and the elderly, the two groups most vulnerable to 
the ravages of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Father D'Ag designed this program 
in his mind, and through his perseverance and guile acquired a tract of 
land in Kitui that became his beloved Nyumbani Village. In this eco-
friendly, self-sustaining village the grandparents care for their own 
grandchildren as well as other needy children in a house with a garden, 
access to the village school, and training in one of the many income-
generating projects. While this village is still a work in progress, it 
already has 258 residents, 29 grandparents, and 229 children, with a 
capacity of 1,000 residents.

  These achievements by Father D'Ag should serve as an inspiration to 
us all. He changed the world one child at a time, and he expanded his 
reach to do so much for so many people who are in desperate need of 
food, medical care and love. Even though he has departed from this 
world, he has left behind an enduring legacy through his programs for 
children. His passion and commitment are carried on through his 
incredible disciple and partner, Sister Mary Owens, who continues his 
work. She is joined by many other dedicated staff members and 
volunteers who will continue to nurture and protect Father D'Ag's 
children. No one can visit Nyumbani without being changed forever.
  Today, Kenya, the home of Father D'Ag's work, is facing unusually 
difficult civil discord. This recent civil unrest reminds us how 
fragile life can be in a nation where so many people live in such quiet 
desperation. Hopefully, these tribal divisions will soon be healed. In 
the meantime, we must stop and take a moment to reflect upon one man--a 
Jesuit priest and medical doctor--who put his heart, soul and life into 
caring for those who could not care for themselves. It is an honor to 
rise today and call on all of my colleagues and people around the world 
to join in celebrating the great fortune that the birth and life of 
Father D'Agostino was for the children of Kenya and each of us who had 
the opportunity to know him.
  Happy Birthday, Father D'Ag, and thank you for your enduring 
contributions.

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