Most Reverend James G. Kelly
St. Margaret's Church
Buffalo, NY
Sponsor: Rep. Rep. John Lafalce, (D-NY)
Date of Prayer: 07/26/2001
One Minute Speech Given in Recognition of the Guest Chaplain:
Mr. LAFALCE. Mr. Speaker, I want to both welcome and thank Monsignor Jim Kelly from St. Margaret's Roman Catholic Church on Hertel Avenue in Buffalo, New York, for coming here this morning and offering the opening prayer.
When I was a very young man coming out of law school, I was hired by one of the most prominent firms in Buffalo, Jackle, Fleischman, Kelly Swart, and Ausberger. It was Monsignor Kelly's dad, Harry Kelly , one of the best trial lawyers western New York has ever seen, who gave me my initial start. His sister Therese and her husband Tom bought a home just two doors away from the home that I lived in on Starin Avenue in the Town of Tonawanda.
The name Kelly is very, very Irish, but he ministers with great care and love and compassion to the parishioners of St. Margaret's, which is over 70 percent Italian American. He, in addition to that, tries, probably harder than anyone else, to promote peace and justice within the Diocese of Buffalo, because he is the Chairman of the Peace and Justice Commission for the Diocese of Buffalo.
Monsignor Kelly , we welcome you here today and we also say to you, one day late, Happy Birthday.
Opening Prayer Given by the Guest Chaplain:
Heavenly Father, Lord of creation, all praise and thanks to You for the commission and gifts which You have given to us Your children to continue Your work in the world through the formation and fostering of civilization on this earth. Praise and thanks to You for this blessed Republic of ours and for the women and men who serve willingly and generously in its governance. Look with favor on the elected Members of this House of Representatives, bless them and guide them that they may not only enact laws that are just but also be the voice of those who have no voice, the most vulnerable and marginal of our society. Help these men and women to be persons who lead through the example of honesty, reverence for our traditions and integrity. Praise and thanks to You, our God, forever. Amen.
To learn more about Members who have sponsored a Guest Chaplain, please visit the Congressional Biographical Directory