[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 6]
[House]
[Page 7886]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    WELCOMING THE NEW HOUSE CHAPLAIN

  (Mr. BOEHNER asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, one of the most important members of the 
House community is not a Member of the House. Upon its inception, the 
House elected a chaplain to deliver the opening prayer, continuing a 
tradition started by the First Continental Congress.
  As the House has grown, so has the role of the chaplain, who Members, 
officers, and staff look to for advice and counsel.
  The chaplain also sees to the well-being of this institution, which 
serves people of all faiths, and a Nation that has always put its trust 
in God.
  Our national motto is an echo of the 16th Psalm, which in part says: 
``Preserve me, O God, for in thee do I put my trust.''
  In many ways, the chaplain is the anchor of the House.
  So it was with regret that we bid farewell to Father Coughlin, who 
retired after 11 years of distinguished service. But always looking out 
for us, Father Dan left behind one last blessing. He recommended 
someone who he felt would be a worthy successor. And to no surprise, 
Father Dan was right.
  Father Pat Conroy comes to us from the Northwest. He was born and 
raised in Washington State and has spent much of his priesthood in 
Oregon. Next month, he will mark his 28th year as a Jesuit priest.
  Father Pat also served here in our capital city. He was chaplain at 
Georgetown University for a total of 10 years.
  He has a deep appreciation for public service. Before being called 
into the priesthood, Father Pat had thought he had a calling into 
politics, specifically the United States Senate.
  Father, something tells me that you'll fit in just fine right here.
  I think it's important to give the House a sense of Father Pat's 
character.
  This is from a letter he wrote expressing his willingness to serve as 
chaplain:
  ``As a Jesuit, I believe it a part of my calling to find God in all 
things and to discover the spirit of God present in the people I 
encounter and whom I serve. I wish to say that I am ready and willing 
should those to be served deem me worthy of this ministry. Though true 
of any ministry, the position would call me to a radical reliance upon 
the grace of God, which would also be God's gift.''
  I think it's clear this loyal servant of the faithful is uniquely 
suited to serve as chaplain of the people's House.
  Leader Pelosi and I have gotten a chance to know Father Pat, and we 
are honored that he has accepted our invitation to serve as chaplain. 
We're blessed, I think, to have his guidance and his wisdom as we 
discharge our duties and fulfill our obligations to current and future 
generations of Americans.
  Please join me in welcoming and congratulating the 60th chaplain of 
the House of Representatives, Father Pat Conroy.
  (Ms. PELOSI asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Ms. PELOSI. As the Speaker takes the chair, I join him in commending 
to the House the spiritual leadership of Father Patrick Conroy.
  Speaker Boehner, I wish to associate myself with your remarks so 
beautifully explaining how proud we are that Father Patrick Conroy has 
agreed to this additional responsibility.
  I would only like to add that in his ministering to the needs at 
Georgetown as a chaplain there, he was engaged in many interfaith 
ministerings. So that serves him well to come here with the diversity 
of beliefs that we have within even the Protestant part of our Congress 
but also throughout the Congress.
  Father Pat Conroy comes with a healthy respect for what we do, as 
Speaker Boehner said. He has been a longtime Jesuit and again served 
very beautifully in that capacity. Before that he was an attorney. So 
the making of laws is of interest to him. That is not to say that he 
doesn't understand his first responsibility, and that is to minister to 
the spiritual and personal needs of our colleagues.
  Yes, Speaker Boehner was correct in saying that one of the last gifts 
that Father Coughlin left us was a recommendation that Father Patrick 
Conroy would be considered to follow in his footsteps, and huge 
footsteps they are. For more than 10 years, Father Dan was our 
spiritual leader, and we were blessed with that.
  Today, we are blessed again with the Speaker's recommendation to the 
body of Father Patrick Conroy as the Chaplain of the House of 
Representatives.
  It is a beautiful honor, steeped in history, deeply personal, free of 
politics; and we wish him every success in that job.
  Father, we pray for you. Please pray for us.
  Welcome, Father Patrick Conroy.

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