[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Page 10403]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                        FATHER GREGOIRE J. FLUET

  Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I am deeply honored this morning to have had 
Father Gregoire Fluet provide us with the opening prayer in this 
session of the Senate. It is a particular pleasure because Father Fluet 
is not just a resident of Connecticut but he is my parish priest. So 
this morning is a moment of particular pride to welcome him to the 
Senate.
  Father Fluet is someone I have known now for a number of years. We 
met each other when Father Fluet was the pastor of St. Joseph's Church 
in North Grosvenordale, CT. I used to, on an annual basis, speak at the 
communion breakfast of the Knights of Columbus, something which I 
enjoyed immensely and did for more than 20 years. It was a wonderful 
experience. The community would get together and Father Fluet would say 
mass and participate in the breakfast afterwards. We had a wonderful 
time over many, many years.
  Then, to my wonderful surprise, on the retirement of my dear friend 
and pastor, Father Henry Dziadosz--unfortunately, we just lost 
Monsignor Dziadosz, a wonderful human being--Father Fluet was assigned 
to my home parish in East Haddam, CT, a section of Moodus, CT. You have 
to be very careful; it is really East Haddam. The people of my town 
would appreciate the distinction I am making here.
  Father Fluet is a wonderful man, a spiritual leader; he has counseled 
and advised me on numerous occasions. He has a wonderful background in 
history. He is a teacher. He taught at St. Bernard's High School in the 
diocese of Norwich. He also was a curate at the parish in Lyme, CT. He 
just received his doctorate in New England studies, the history of New 
England.
  In addition to being a great spiritual leader, he also has a deep 
interest in the history of this country and particularly the history of 
New England.
  It is truly an honor to welcome my good friend, my pastor, to this 
wonderful Chamber. We are deeply honored that he is here. We welcome 
him immensely. We thank him for his wonderful words this morning. I am 
confident that the parish of Saint Bridget of Kildare, my home parish, 
is going to be blessed for many years to come with the wonderful 
spiritual leadership of Father Fluet. He has a wonderful mother who I 
have gotten to know. She is in a little ill health, but we are praying 
for her this hour as well. She is a woman of deep, strong French 
background, a delightful person to be with as well.
  Senator Lieberman, who was just here and wanted to stay to greet 
Father Fluet but had a hearing to run off to, wanted me to express to 
Father Fluet his deep admiration and respect and extend his words of 
welcome as well this morning.
  With that, Mr. President, I thank the Chair and I yield the floor.

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