[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 10514]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



              IN CELEBRATION OF REV. MSGR. GERARD LA CERRA

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 20, 1999

  Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a man who has 
devoted his life to God and who has served faithfully as a priest for 
30 years. Reverend Monsignor was born on March 12, 1943, and was 
ordained to the priesthood on May 24, 1969, after completing his 
seminary studies at St. John Vianney College Seminary in Miami and St. 
Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach, FL. He obtained a 
Bachelor of Arts, Master of Divinity, Master of Theology and Doctor of 
Sacred Theology.
  His many ecclesiastical achievements began in 1969 when he was 
Regional Coordinator for Religious Education in Broward County. From 
1970 to 1977 he was Director of the MA Program in Religious Studies. A 
member of the Faculty of St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary from 
1972 to 1974, he was also Secretary of the National Conference of 
Diocesan Directors of Religious Education from 1974 to 1978.
  In 1978 he was appointed Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Miami and 
served in that capacity until 1993. In addition, he was appointed Vicar 
General and Moderator of the Curia in 1984, a position in which he 
served until March 1995. In this capacity he served as Executive 
Director of the Ministry of General Services. Besides membership on 
various Archdiocesan boards and commissions, he is also Chaplain to the 
Daughters of Isabella.
  At a Pastoral level, Msgr. La Cerra was Associate Pastor at 
Annunciation, Little Flower (Coral Gables) and St. James Parishes. From 
1978 until May 15, 1991 he was named Pastor of St. Mary's Cathedral.
  In December of 1992 he was appointed administrator of St. Timothy 
Parish in Miami and currently he holds the Pastoral position. He was 
given the title of Reverend Monsignor by the highest authority of the 
Catholic Church, Pope John Paul II, in September of 1995. We are 
fortunate to have this admirable Monsignor in South Florida and I 
commend Reverend La Cerra for his many accomplishments.

                          ____________________