[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 18]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 24898]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING FATHER ROBERT DONLAN'S 40 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE CATHOLIC 
                                 CHURCH

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GINNY BROWN-WAITE

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 19, 2007

  Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to 
honor the Reverend Robert R. Donlan, Pastor at St. Anthony Catholic 
Church in Brooksville, Florida, on the 40th anniversary of his 
ordination into the priesthood. For the past 40 years, Father Donlan 
has served the Catholic Church with honor and distinction, all in the 
name of Jesus Christ.
  Born in Amsterdam, New York, Father Donlan has dedicated his life to 
serving the Church. Earning his B.A. at Kilroe Seminary of the Sacred 
Heart in Honesdale, Pennsylvania, his Bachelor of Sacred Theology 
Degree from Sacred Heart Monastery in Hales Corners, Wisconsin, and his 
Masters in Religious Education from the University of Detroit, Father 
Donlan spent an early part of his career as Pastor of St. Margaret Mary 
Church in Detroit, Michigan. He then moved on to serve the Church in 
Mississippi and Florida, eventually moving to Brooksville, Florida 
where he has been Pastor at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in 
Brooksville for the past 14 years.
  Father Donlan joined St. Anthony's Parish following service as the 
Parochial Administrator at St. Jerome Church in Indian Rocks Beach, 
Florida. Loved by his parishioners from throughout Hernando County, 
Father Donlan has fostered a spirit of unity throughout the Church with 
his good deeds and kind words. In fact, since his appointment 14 years 
ago, the number of registered families in the parish has grown to more 
than one thousand three hundred, including this member of Congress and 
her husband. Having listened to his homilies for many years, I can tell 
you that he preaches from the heart and speaks the true word of Jesus 
Christ.
  In addition to his decades of service, Father Donlan has been very 
involved in local church and civic organizations. This volunteerism 
includes service as the Secretary and Treasurer of the Brooksville 
Ministerial Association for 10 years, the Vicar Forane of the Hernando 
Deanery of Catholic Churches, and volunteer efforts at area nursing 
homes and health care facilities.
  For the past 40 years, Father Donlan has tended to the needs of his 
congregation. As a part of his ministry, he has gone above and beyond 
the call of duty to help his Church grow and prosper. One example of 
his devotion was the creation of a Wailing Wall in the Church. Designed 
after the original Western Wall of the old temple in Jerusalem, the 
wall is designed to receive petitions that are burned each month during 
the celebration of Mass.
  Madam Speaker, Father Donlan's dedication to the Lord and to the 
Catholic Church has served as an inspiration to thousands throughout 
Hernando County. His ministry has touched the hearts of many, and the 
Church has continued to grow under his leadership. Father Donlan is to 
be commended for his years of service, his commitment to the Lord, and 
for serving the men and women who rely on his counsel and wisdom. 
Father Donlan is a shining example of the good that serving Jesus 
Christ can bring to our friends and families, and he is to be commended 
on the 40th anniversary of his ordination into the Catholic Church.

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