Reverend Arthur Cavitt
St.. Charles Lwanga Center
St. Louis, MO
Sponsor: Rep. William Lacy Clay, (D-MO)
Date of Prayer: 04/14/2011
One Minute Speech Given in Recognition of the Guest Chaplain:
Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor our guest chaplain, one of my outstanding constituents, Father Arthur Cavitt .
Father Art, as he is known in St. Louis, is a leader in religious outreach and educational development efforts within the African American Catholic community. His St. Charles Lwanga Center, located in North St. Louis City, offers Bible study, pastoral care, and conducts an outstanding youth ministry.
Father Art's spiritual leadership, through his center and as an educator at Cardinal Ritter College Preparatory, is reaching thousands of young people, changing lives, and helping to reclaim neighborhoods that have seen far too much violence, intolerance and pain.
Father Art is bringing the church's message of love, truth, tolerance, and mutual understanding to those in our community who need it most. I am very honored to salute him today as our special guest.
Opening Prayer Given by the Guest Chaplain:
In times like these, we need the Almighty Good Shepherd to be with us. Lead us, Lord, through valleys and shadows onwards to straight paths. In times like these, we need the God of the breakthrough to give us the ability to see transforming possibilities.
Guide us, Lord, through the challenges of our modern lives where sometimes hope is juxtaposed with despair. Grant that this august body will continue to move towards the common good, mindful of the inherent dignity that You, God, have placed within us.
Grant that our hearts will resound blessed are we among nations. Blessed are we who dwell in this place and claim the potential for more love, peace, and inclusion for all people to partake of the fruits of this magnificent land.
Shepherd us, Lord. The promise of Your goodness and compassion sustains our work and sustains our offering of thanksgiving this hour and evermore. Amen.
To learn more about Members who have sponsored a Guest Chaplain, please visit the Congressional Biographical Directory