[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 12015]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       REV. RICHARD POLMOUNTER CELEBRATES 25 YEARS IN PRIESTHOOD

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                         HON. PAUL E. KANJORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 15, 2003

  Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, today I call the attention of the House 
of Representatives to the 25th anniversary of ordination to the 
priesthood of Reverend Richard J. Polmounter, pastor of Saint Mary, 
Help of Christians Church and Saint Mary's Assumption Church, and 
administrator of Saint Mary's Assumption School, all located in 
Pittston, Pennsylvania.
  Father Polmounter, the son of Catherine B. Maduro Polmounter and the 
late Frederick S. Polmounter, is a 1970 graduate of Hazleton Senior 
High School. He attended Saint Pius X Seminary in Dalton and the 
University of Scranton, where he graduated with honors in 1974 with a 
bachelor of arts in history. His extensive education also includes a 
master of science degree in religious education, which he received from 
Marywood College in 1983. He was ordained to the priesthood by the late 
Most Reverend J. Carroll McCormick, Bishop of Scranton, on May 6, 1978, 
at Saint Peter's Cathedral in Scranton. He celebrated his first Mass 
the next day at his home parish, Holy Rosary Church, Hazleton.
  As Father Polmounter marks his silver sacerdotal jubilee, he is being 
honored for his service at several events this month. Bishop James 
Timlin of Scranton celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving with Father 
Polmounter and all the jubilarians of the diocese on May 12 at Saint 
Peter's Cathedral.
  A parish celebration will take place the weekend of May 17 and 18. On 
May 17, a Mass will be celebrated at Saint Mary, Help of Christians 
Church with the children of the parish, and on May 18, a Mass will be 
celebrated at Saint Mary's Assumption Church with the children of the 
parish school. A parish testimonial is planned for May 18 at the Saint 
Anthony of Padua Parish Center.
  Before being appointed to his first and present pastorate in 1990, he 
served as an assistant pastor at Saints Peter and Paul Church in 
Plains, Saint Anthony of Padua Church in Dunmore, and the Church of 
Saint Mary of the Assumption, Old Forge. He also served for four years 
as the spiritual moderator of the Diocesan Council of Catholic Men and 
served as chaplain of the Hazleton Heights Volunteer Fire Company #4. 
He also served for six years each on the Board of Education Committee 
of the Diocesan Schools Office and the Priests Retirement Advisory 
Board. He is a member of the Board of Pastors of Seton Catholic High 
School and served two terms as the board secretary. He is currently 
serving a four-year term on the diocesan College of Consultors and the 
Presbyteral Council and is a member of the Greater Pittston 
Ministerium.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to congratulate Reverend Richard J. 
Polmounter on his 25th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood, and 
I extend my best wishes to him and the parishioners he serves.

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