Very Reverend Ernesto Medina
Cathedral Center of St. Paul
Los Angeles, CA
Sponsor: Rep. Rep. Xavier Becerra, (D-CA)
Date of Prayer: 06/05/2003
One Minute Speech Given in Recognition of the Guest Chaplain:
Mr. BECERRA. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor for me to rise today to introduce our guest chaplain, the Very Reverend Ernesto R. Medina of the Cathedral Center of St. Paul in Los Angeles, California. Reverend Medina is an ordained minister and a graduate of the Church Divinity School of the Pacific as well as the University of California at San Diego.
Reverend Medina is more than just the pastor of the Cathedral Center of St. Paul. He is neighbor, friend, and indispensable spiritual leader in the community of Echo Park in Los Angeles. He is the first Latino to be appointed as a provost within the Episcopalian Church in this country. Reverend Medina has demonstrated a leadership style that has endeared him not only to the members of his congregation and the community of Echo Park but also to those throughout the community of Los Angeles who have been fortunate enough to work with him.
Not long ago, there was a collapse of an apartment building not far from the Cathedral Center where, were it not for the efforts of Reverend Medina , several families would have been left homeless. But quickly, Reverend Medina and the parishioners of the Cathedral Center came forward and offered families with small children a place to stay and a place to eat. Today the parish of Cathedral Center is much blessed by the work that has been done by Reverend Medina . His compassion not only for the residents of Echo Park but for all of Los Angeles has exemplified the type of work that is done by the Episcopalian Church. I am very proud to say that today, the first day perhaps in more than 2 weeks when we see the sun out in Washington, D.C., that Reverend Medina has come forward.
Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
Mr. BECERRA. I yield to the gentleman from California.
Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I would simply like to join my friend in welcoming Reverend Medina , who has just informed me that he is a constituent of mine. We are very appreciative of the prayer and the very kind words.
Mr. BECERRA. I join with my colleague from California (Mr. Dreier) in recognizing that not only is he an able reverend but he is also a very important constituent. I thank the Speaker for this opportunity to express some thoughts for this 1 minute. I thank the reverend for making the trip to Washington, D.C., and bringing the sunshine with him.
Opening Prayer Given by the Guest Chaplain:
Loving God, in your Word you have given us a vision of that holy City to which the nations of the world bring their glory: Behold and visit, we pray, the communities on this earth. Renew the ties of mutual regard which form our civic life. Send us honest and able leaders. Enable us to eliminate poverty, prejudice, and oppression, that peace may prevail with righteousness, and justice with order, and that men and women from different cultures, and with differing talents may find with one another the fulfillment of their humanity.
O God, the fountain of wisdom, whose will is good and gracious, and whose law is truth: We pray you so to guide and bless our Representatives in Congress assembled, that they may enact such laws as shall please you, to the glory of your Name and the welfare of this people; in your Holy Name we pray. Amen.
To learn more about Members who have sponsored a Guest Chaplain, please visit the Congressional Biographical Directory