[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 12256]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING MONSIGNOR GABRIEL GHANOUM

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MARIO DIAZ-BALART

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 27, 2011

  Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Monsignor 
Gabriel Ghanoum for his dedicated service to the Miami area. Monsignor 
Ghanoum has been a fixture in the community since 1994, and currently 
serves as pastor of the St. Nicholas Melkite Greek Catholic Church in 
Delray Beach, Florida.
  In 1999 Monsignor Ghanoum started the Spanish Ministry at St. Jude's 
Melkite Catholic Church, and served as its pastor until 2010. He still 
celebrates mass with St. Jude's, often given to a standing room only 
crowd consisting of people from all over the state of Florida, and all 
over the world. He also provides mass for the homeless community of 
Miami, the JFK Medical Center and his current parish, St. Nicholas'. It 
is through his homilies that Monsignor Ghanoum gives his parishioners 
strength, motivation and insight into the power of prayer and devotion 
to God.
  Throughout his time in Miami, Monsignor Ghanoum has established 
diverse programs for the needy and homeless, assisted at Miami 
Children's Hospital, and has served as a Victim's Assistance 
Coordinator for Child Abuse, among various other programs and services. 
Currently, he assists the sisters of the Missionaries of Charity of 
Mother Teresa in the archdiocese of Miami. Along with his work in 
Miami, he has been a stalwart supporter of the Mexican Association of 
Aid to Children with Cancer. It is through programs such as these that 
Monsignor Ghanoum truly shines, and impacts the lives of countless 
human beings.
  Mr. Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute to Monsignor Gabriel Ghanoum 
for his continued service to the Miami community. As a true servant of 
the Lord, he has dedicated himself to his faith and his community. He 
has gone beyond the call of duty, and has consistently demonstrated the 
high values of priesthood. I ask my colleagues to join me in 
recognizing this outstanding individual, and I wish him continued 
success and happiness in the future.

                          ____________________