[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 9287]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE REVEREND J. CLETUS KILEY ON THE CELEBRATION OF HIS 40TH 
                          PASTORAL ANNIVERSARY

                                  _____
                                 

                          HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 29, 2014

  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today 
to join the many family, friends, and colleagues who have gathered to 
celebrate the 40th Pastoral Anniversary of my good friend, the Reverend 
J. Cletus Kiley. Over the course of his 40 years as a priest, Father 
Kiley has served the church and his congregations with great dedication 
and commitment. Today, as he reflects on all that he has accomplished 
through his ministry, he can be proud of the impact he has had on the 
lives of so many.
  Father Kiley has a rich and diverse career with the church. A priest 
of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago, in his earliest years he 
served as a member of Cardinal Bernardin's Cabinet and Director for 
Personnel Services for the Archdiocese of Chicago. Having studied at 
the Centro de Artes y Lenguas in Cuernavaca, Mexico as well as the 
Seminario Arcivescovile di Milano in Venegono, Italy, Father Kiley is 
fluent in both Spanish and Italian. His trilingual knowledge was 
particularly helpful during his service as Acting Vicar for Religious, 
Chairman of the Comision del Plan Pastoral Hispano and as Asesor for El 
Movimiento del Encuentro Conyugal Arquidiocesano, and as an Associate 
Dean of Formation and spiritual director at Mundelein Seminary.
  Father Kiley went on to serve as Rector/President of Niles College 
Seminary/St. Joseph College Seminary at Loyola University where he 
developed and implemented a new strategic plan that led to the 
relocation of the seminary on to the main campus of Loyola University. 
Before joining the Conference of Bishops where he was Executive 
Director of the Secretariat for Priestly Life and Ministry, Fr. Kiley 
was pastor of St. Agnes of Bohemia parish in Chicago, one of the 
largest parishes in Chicago serving over 5,000 immigrant families.
  In June of 2006, Father Kiley became the President and CEO of the 
Faith & Politics Institute and during his four-year tenure he worked 
closely with members of Congress from both political parties. He hosted 
an annual program for members of Congress and members of the Labor and 
Business communities to reflect on the lives and issues of importance 
to America's working people, oversaw the development of a dialogue 
group for over 35 Senate chiefs of staff, and conducted weekly 
reflection groups for members of Congress. I, along with many of my 
colleagues, consider it fortunate that the Congress has had such a 
dedicated and compassionate advocate working with us.
  Today, Father Kiley continues his ministerial work as the Director 
for Immigration Policy for UNITE HERE where he works on immigration 
reform strategies with the union's national leadership and its local 
members throughout the country. He serves as a staff member to the 
Immigration Committee of the AFL-CIO. He also works with a variety of 
allies including serving on the steering committee for the Justice for 
Immigrants Initiative of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and is 
a Senior Fellow at the Institute for Policy Research and Catholic 
Studies at the Catholic University of America. Father Kiley also 
oversees a project to train a new generation of Catholic Labor priests 
with more than 125 priests now a part of this network. The initiative 
is housed at the National Federation of Priests' Councils and done in 
consultation with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The 
initiative was recently endorsed by the U.S. Association of Catholic 
Priests and was honored by the Association of Chicago Priests.
  As a religious leader, advocate, mentor and friend, Father Kiley has 
touched the lives of thousands--helping to shape public policy and 
improving the quality of life for those most in need. Through all of 
his good work he has inspired others to join in his efforts--instilling 
hope and promise in all of those who have had the good fortune to work 
with him. His spiritual guidance has nourished the souls of many and 
his compassion has encouraged others to give more of themselves. Today, 
as he celebrates his 40th year as a priest, he continues to make a 
difference in the lives of others--his work a reflection of the heart 
of Catholic teachings. I am proud to extend my deepest thanks and 
appreciation as well as my heart-felt congratulations to Father J. 
Cletus Kiley as he celebrates this very special milestone. Happy 40th 
Anniversary and best wishes for many more years of success.

                          ____________________