[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 10012]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 10012]]

             IN HONOR OF REVEREND MONSIGNOR GERARD LA CERRA

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 18, 1999

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to recognize a man 
for whom the South Florida Community has the utmost respect, esteem and 
admiration, Reverend Monsignor Gerard La Cerra, who will celebrate 30 
years in the priesthood on May 24th.
  Monsignor La Cerra was ordained into the priesthood in Miami in 1969 
and has been indispensable to our community from that moment on.
  He has been a driving force in our city, possessing a truly ``God-
given'' ability to bring people together from different cultures, 
religions and walks of life, for a greater good, both encompassing and 
dispensing brother hood, fellowship and most of all, love.
  He was instrumental in the very inception of the Archbishop Coleman 
F. Carroll High School and involved in every step of its formulation 
from the initial groundbreaking to the final ribbon cutting ceremony.
  In 1995, this extraordinary man was designated Prelate of Honor with 
the title of Reverend Monsignor by His Holiness, Pope John Paul, II.
  In addition to the many honors and accolades that Monsignor La Cerra 
received, he has been a tireless worker and advocate for the people of 
Miami and has served selflessly.
  I would like all my colleagues to join me in honoring someone who is 
truly an inspiration and role model to everyone in the way that he has 
lived every single day of his life.

                          ____________________