[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 122 (Wednesday, September 12, 2012)]
[House]
[Page H5869]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    WELCOMING REVEREND MATTHEW MELLO

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Ross) is recognized for 1 minute.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ROSS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I wanted to take a brief moment to 
say thank you to today's chaplain. I would also like to thank the 
Speaker for making this possible.
  The invocation today was offered by Father Matthew Mello of 
Resurrection Catholic Church in my hometown of Lakeland, Florida.
  Mr. Speaker, in 1963, my mother and father helped found the church 
Father Mello calls home. And like my parents and most Floridians, 
Father Mello is a geographic mutt: born in New Jersey, attended grade 
school in Puerto Rico, went to high school in Florida, attended 
seminary in Indiana, and studied theology in Chicago.
  We don't know if he's a Yankees fan, a Cubs fan, or a White Sox fan. 
But one thing's for certain: since 1998, Father Mello has been a 
constant and reassuring presence in the spiritual life of countless 
residents of my hometown and to my family. His presence in my dad's 
final year of life was a comfort to him as well as to my family.
  Father Mello personifies Christ's instruction to us to be the 
``servant of all.'' I firmly believe, as the Bible also says, ``that 
the fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.'' Knowing Father 
Mello, I have no doubt that today's prayer was heard on high.
  I thank him for his prayer today and his lifetime of service.

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