Imam Seyed Ali Ghazvini
Islamic Cultural Center of Fresno
Fresno, CA
Sponsor: Rep. Jim Costa/Jeff Denham, (D-CA)
Date of Prayer: 07/24/2018
One Minute Speech Given in Recognition of the Guest Chaplain:
Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today and it is my honor and privilege
to welcome Imam Ghazvini as the guest chaplain to the United States House of Representatives.
For the past 14 years, Seyed Ali Ghazvini has served as imam, or spiritual leader, of the Islamic Cultural Center in Fresno, a very important Islamic center in the San Joaquin Valley.
In addition to leading prayers and Qur'anic study, the Imam Ghazvini
has distinguished himself as a prominent, prominent community leader. Since the beginning of his ministry, the imam has worked intently to facilitate meaningful interfaith dialogue and understanding throughout
the valley, among all religions.
As the co–chair of the Interfaith Alliance of Central California, he
has brought together numerous religious and social justice organizations to host mixed–faith events and spread tolerance and
inclusivity throughout the San Joaquin Valley. I know because I have
had the wonderful pleasure and honor to participate.
It has been with great honor, again, that many of us who have been
able to participate in these interdenominational meetings have witnessed a renewed commitment to social justice first hand. I urge my colleagues to welcome me in joining him and in thanking him this morning for his opening prayer.
Opening Prayer Given by the Guest Chaplain:
Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim, in the name of God, the compassionate, the merciful, Almighty God, I thank You for having led me to this great Nation, whose history of welcoming immigrants makes it possible for me to give today's prayer. I thank You for inspiring our Founding Fathers and the governments that followed to acknowledge civil liberties and minority rights.
I ask You, God, to bless the Members of this Hall, and I pray that You continue to inspire our elected officials so that their decisions meet Your approval. I pray that You inspire them to continue to uphold the democratic values of fairness and compassion that have made our Nation great, so that no one seeking refuge from war is banned from stepping on our soil based on faith affiliation or race, so that desperate families seeking refuge are not separated.
God, empower our lawmakers to promote peace, starting in our own cities and emanating to the rest of the world. Amen.
To learn more about Members who have sponsored a Guest Chaplain, please visit the Congressional Biographical Directory