[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 145 (Thursday, September 29, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1728]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       REVEREND PAUL A. McDONNELL

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. LOU BARLETTA

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 29, 2011

  Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the Reverend Paul A. 
McDonnell, Oblate of St. Joseph, for his lifelong dedication to serving 
his church and his community.
  Father McDonnell began his spiritual journey immediately after 
graduating from Wyoming Area High School by entering the Oblates of St. 
Joseph Seminary in Laflin, Pennsylvania. During his time as a 
seminarian, he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy from 
King's College in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. After spending five years 
in Rome, Italy, Father McDonnell returned to the United States with a 
bachelor's degree in sacred theology from the Pontifical University of 
St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) and a master's degree in pastoral 
theology at the Lateran University. Upon his return, he was ordained a 
Roman Catholic priest in his home parish of St. Anthony of Padua, 
Exeter, by former Auxiliary Bishop of Scranton Bishop Francis X. 
DiLorenzo.
  Father McDonnell has served the Pennsylvania Province of the Oblates 
of St. Joseph Congregation as assistant pastor; pastor of Our Lady of 
Mount Carmel Church, Pittston; and the provincial superior of the Our 
Lady of Sorrows Province. Presently, he serves as the provincial vicar 
and secretary, as well as the North American representative at the 
Congregation's Rome headquarters.
  Father McDonnell's service extends past his work in the Oblates of 
St. Joseph. He serves as Chaplin to UNICO and to the Ancient Order of 
Hibernians. McDonnell's community involvement is clearly evident is as 
he was named the honorary chairman of the 2011 capitol campaign of the 
YMCA, and he holds positions on the boards of the Wesley Village 
Nursing Facility and the Earthly Angels Autism Foundation.
  Mr. Speaker, on this day I would like to applaud the Reverend Paul A. 
McDonnell for his 20 years of serving parishes within the Diocese of 
Scranton and extending his hand to all of humanity. He is deserving of 
the honor of being named the Italian-American Association's 2011 Person 
of the Year.

                          ____________________