[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Pages 6441-6442]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      WELCOMING THE GUEST CHAPLAIN

  Mr. MARTINEZ. Mr. President, I was so proud to have my pastor and 
very good friend deliver the opening prayer. Father McCormick and I 
have known each other since 1983, when he first came to our parish 
church of St. James in Orlando. He is a product of Dublin, Ireland, but 
he became a proud citizen in 1973, much as I did in 1971. He has not 
only been a tremendous source of faith and inspiration to me and my 
family and, more importantly, perhaps, my children, but he has also 
been a tremendous advocate for the poor and needy in our community. He 
does tremendous work overseas as well in a program called Food for the 
Poor where the Caribbean nations and Latin America have benefited 
greatly from his generosity and hard work.
  There are a couple of things I must point out. He has also developed 
a love for American football since coming here. But not being perfect, 
he has chosen the Cowboys over the Redskins. And then in a further 
imperfection that may be less forgivable, he has chosen the Gators over 
the Seminoles in Florida. I frequently have been a patient listener as 
he, on Sunday mornings, regales about the Gators and beats up on the 
Seminoles. Today is my day for revenge. I am awfully proud to have him 
here. He is a wonderful friend. I know he has looked forward to this 
day.
  I thank the Chair for the courtesy of allowing me to say a couple 
words about my dear friend and pastor.

[[Page 6442]]

  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Republican leader.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, we join the Senator from Florida in 
welcoming his pastor this morning. I am pleased to see that he will be 
forgiven for his sin of advocating the success of the Cowboys and the 
Gators.

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