[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17968]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     GREATER NEW BEDFORD SALUTES THE VERY REV. CONSTANTINE S. BEBIS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BARNEY FRANK

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 17, 2011

  Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, on October 30th, one of the 
great leaders of Southeastern Massachusetts retired--not from our 
community, but in his official capacity as the Pastor of St. George 
Greek Orthodox Church. His retirement comes to some extent as a loss to 
our community, although after 58 years of superb service, no one can 
begrudge him that step. But we do not believe he will be retiring from 
the extraordinarily important role he has played in the life of the 
community at large.
  Father Bebis was a man of great enthusiasm for life, deep learning 
and an example or religion in its very best sense. To be with him was 
to draw strength from him, to be inspired and cheered by him, and to 
feel lucky to be one of the countless people whom he treated as 
friends.
  Mr. Speaker, in the New Bedford Standard Times, Saturday, October 
29th, Linda Andrade Rodrigues wrote a very thoughtful piece that 
captures the spirit of Father Bebis and the love that people in our 
region have for him. I ask that this be printed here.

                 [From Southcoast Today, Oct. 29, 2011]

`He Has Illumined Our Minds, Deepened Our Souls, Enlarged Our Hearts': 
  The Very Rev. Constantine S. Bebis Retires After 58 Years as Pastor

                      (By Linda Andrade Rodrigues)

       Dartmouth, NH.-- The Very Rev. Constantine S. Bebis, the 
     beloved pastor of St. George Greek Orthodox Church for the 
     past 58 years, will officially retire on Oct. 30, celebrating 
     his last Sunday service as ``proistamenos''.
       Born on the isle of Crete, Bebis never dreamed that he 
     would someday come to America. As a young boy, he lived in 
     Pireaus, Greece, with his widowed mother who struggled to 
     raise her three young children while working as a seamstress.
       The family survived the German occupation from April 1941 
     to October 1944.
       ``Italy bombed us, Germany bombed us, and then the allies 
     bombed us,'' he said. ``Many of my neighbors got killed. How 
     I survived was a miracle!''
       Bebis said that during this difficult time, the Greeks 
     longed for emancipation from the Americans and the British.
       ``I had no money, but I wanted to study English,'' he said. 
     ``I gave an English teacher part of my bread coupons. I 
     denied myself food so I could buy books and learn English.''
       During a catechism class, the teacher asked if any of the 
     students had considered the priesthood.
       ``I was the only one who raised a hand,'' he said. ``I 
     wanted to become a priest like my grandfather.''
       At the end of the class, the teacher asked him, ``Do you 
     want to go to America?''
       ``Of course,'' he answered.
       A short time later an American bishop visited Greece, and 
     Bebis was chosen as a seminarian. He arrived in the United 
     States in 1947.
       He received a full scholarship to study theology for the 
     priesthood of the Greek Orthodox Church.
       ``This country has been wonderful to me,'' he said.
       Bebis earned a master's degree in theology and was ordained 
     on March 25, 1951.
       The same year he wed Irene Vouris of Watertown.
       ``I married a wonderful woman,'' he said. ``Irene was a 
     beautiful lady, the redeeming feature in my life, and she 
     gave me four marvelous, successful children: Stephen, George, 
     Paul and Constance.
       ``I am also grateful for my 11 grandchildren and four 
     great-children''
       Bebis became the pastor of St. George Greek Orthodox Church 
     in New Bedford on Oct. 1, 1953.
       ``When I came to New Bedford, some prominent people told me 
     that this was a difficult parish in a difficult town, and 
     they gave me six months,'' he said laughing. ``I found the 
     people extremely fine, and in every person I saw the image of 
     Christ.''
       Bebis has always been involved in ecumenical activities, 
     serving as a member of the Inter-Church Council of Greater 
     New Bedford since 1954.
       ``I was very happy to associate myself with both my friends 
     from the Inter-Church Council and the many Catholic 
     priests,'' he said.
       In May 1976, the ecumenical patriarchate of Constantinople 
     awarded him the title of protopresbyter, the highest rank of 
     a married priest in the Greek Orthodox Church.
       Bebis reached out to the community as pastor; as founder of 
     the antipoverty agency, the Agnes Braz and Hope Bean North 
     End Community Center; and as president of Onboard Legal 
     Services for the Poor, among a host of other charitable work.
       In May 2003, Metropolitan Methodios of Boston conferred 
     upon Bebis the ancient office of archimandrite, the title 
     given to priests who are eligible to become bishops.
       Bebis was honored by the City of New Bedford in 2004 for 
     his more than 50 years of service to the community. His 
     portrait by artist Deborah Macy is on display at the New 
     Bedford Free Public Library.
       A bench in front of the Math and Science building at 
     Bristol Community College also pays tribute to the Greek 
     immigrant who became the beloved father to his congregation, 
     as well as friend and benefactor to the community at large.
       Marking his amazing journey are these words carved in 
     stone: ``He has illumined our minds, clarified our vision, 
     deepened our souls, enlarged our hearts, broadened our 
     compassion, enriched our spirit, and our humanity.''
       Bebis said that his mission was crowned when the 
     congregation moved into their new church building on Cross 
     Road in Dartmouth two years ago.
       ``It was an emotional thing for some of the parishioners to 
     leave the old church,'' he said. ``But the church is 
     flourishing in our new facilities. I am amazed at the 
     attendance.''
       A resident of New Bedford, Bebis said that he will remain a 
     faithful and supportive member of the parish.
       ``I decided to retire, but a priest never retires,'' he 
     said. ``I will still be here as a member of the parish. As 
     long as I live, I will serve the church.''

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