[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 2343-2344]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         FATHER KEVIN CORCORAN

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BILL PASCRELL, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, February 13, 2015

  Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Father Kevin 
Corcoran who, after 16 years of support and service to the Department 
for Persons with Disabilities will be honored as Person of the Year on 
Sunday, February 22, 2015 at the 45th Annual Murray House Dinner Dance 
in Paterson, NJ.

[[Page 2344]]

  Father Kevin Corcoran is a native of Dover, New Jersey. In 1986, he 
graduated from Morris Catholic High School in Denville, and upon 
graduation dedicated the next four years of his life to serving in the 
United States Air Force. He demonstrated remarkable courage and 
dedication to serving his country, and would continue to exemplify core 
Air Force values: ``Integrity first, service before self, and 
excellence in all we do''.
  During his time in the Air Force, Father Kevin was stationed in 
Texas, Colorado, and Korea. While in Korea, he received a Black Belt in 
Taekwondo from the University of Seoul.
  In 1999, Father Kevin answered the call to a vocation in priesthood, 
and enrolled in St. Mary's seminary and University in Baltimore, 
Maryland. Specializing in theological studies, he received both a B.A. 
and M.A. in theology.
  His first assignment as a priest was at St. Anthony Parish in 
Hawthorne, where he served as a parochial vicar from 1999-2007. As 
such, Father Kevin carried out the functions of teaching, sanctifying 
and leading the people of St. Anthony's parish. He and his colleagues 
worked tirelessly to guide and lead the community of St. Anthony's 
through faith and fellowship.
  For several months in 2010, while assisting his mother who was ill, 
Father Kevin did priestly ministry at St. Mary's Parish, in Goldsboro, 
North Carolina.
  From 2007-2012, as well as 2011 to the present, Father Kevin has 
served as priest-secretary to Bishop Arthur J. Serratelli of the 
Diocese of Paterson, in addition to being Vice Chancellor and Master of 
Ceremonies for Episcopal Liturgical events. Father Kevin has had the 
privilege to work with Bishop Serratelli, who has shown exemplary 
leadership within his community, serving on multiple boards such as the 
Committee on Divine Worship and Chairman of the Ad hoc Sub-Committee 
for the Review of Scripture Translations.
  Through the Department for Persons with Disabilities, Father Kevin 
and Bishop Serratelli have greatly assisted adults with intellectual 
and developmental disabilities by providing residential, vocational, 
spiritual, and social services. Their involvement has empowered persons 
with disabilities to become active, contributing, and valued members of 
their community, and have helped them to live life to the fullest with 
dignity and respect.
  The Department for Persons with Disabilities is an organization that 
is near and dear to my heart. I have attended the Annual Murray House 
Dinner Dance, and have had the privilege of watching their organization 
grow and flourish throughout the years. Father Corcoran is an 
exceptional man and I commend him on his achievements.
  The job of a United States Congressman involves much that is 
rewarding, yet nothing compares to recognizing and commemorating the 
achievements of individuals such as Father Kevin Corcoran.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join our colleagues, Father Kevin 
Corcoran's coworkers, family and friends, all those whose lives he has 
touched, and me, in recognizing the work of Father Kevin Corcoran.

                          ____________________