chaplain.house.govThe Office of the Chaplain, United States House of Representatives

-- The Office of the Chaplain United States House of Representatives Return Home The Chaplaincy Prayer Archive Religion on the Hill Message from the Chaplain The Reverend Patrick J. Conroy To serve as Chaplain for the U.S. House of Representatives is truly an honor and a privilege. To be both a minister of the Lord and an officer serving the United States government responds to a twofold call to serve others and offer prayer that unites Heaven and Earth. With 435 Members in the House and their staffs, plus all the other wonderful people who serve here with committee work or in the Chamber, including teenage Pages, my pastoral duties are many and varied. My goal is to meet the needs of this working community on a personal level. The problems that weigh on hearts and the confusion that at times blocks clarity of thinking become my concerns. The formal prayer before each legislative session of Congress, and even before days of pro forma sessions, casts a light on the day that awakens faith and calls forth a nation to stand with its leaders and affirm: “In God We Trust.” But daily prayer for the Members of the House cannot end there. I ask people across this great country to join me in praying for the Members of the House of Representatives. Know the Member of your congressional district by name and raise his or her name before God each day with us here in the nation’s capital. Pray for me, also, that I may be always rooted in prayer and a good instrument for accomplishing God’s holy will here. Only by being free in the Spirit can I serve all the people here, regardless of their faith persuasion or denomination. Only by listening attentively to each person can I offer good counsel, encouragement, and gentle correction. Thank you for your interest in and support of the Members of the House. -- Additional Resources Chaplain’s Office Brochure Local Places of Worship Opening Prayer 01/08/2020 Reverend Patrick J. Conroy, S.J. Lord our God, we give You thanks for giving us another day. At the beginning of this new session, surround us with Your Holy Spirit. Lord, these are anxious days for Your children on Earth. The risks of misunderstanding and failed messaging are great. Help all of us to seek Your presence in our midst that peace and goodwill might prevail. We know, O Lord, this is a lot to ask. Have mercy on us. May the comings and goings of Your people be under the seal of Your loving care, and may all our work be done for Your greater honor and glory. Amen. Thought of the Week “Comfort, give comfort to my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her service is at an end, her guilt is expiated; Indeed, she has received from the hand of the LORD double for all her sins. A voice cries out: In the desert prepare the way of the LORD! Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God! Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill shall be made low; The rugged land shall be made a plain, the rough country, a broad valley. Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken. A voice says, "Cry out!" I answer, "What shall I cry out?" "All flesh is grass, and all their glory like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower wilts, when the breath of the LORD blows upon it. So then, the people is the grass. Though the grass withers and the flower wilts, the word of our God stands forever." Go up onto a high mountain, Zion, herald of glad tidings; Cry out at the top of your voice, Jerusalem, herald of good news! Fear not to cry out and say to the cities of Judah: Here is your God! Here comes with power the Lord GOD, who rules by his strong arm; Here is his reward with him, his recompense before him. Like a shepherd he feeds his flock; in his arms he gathers the lambs, Carrying them in his bosom, and leading the ewes with care.” — Isaiah 40:1-11 Home The Chaplaincy Prayer Archive Religion on the Hill The Reverend Patrick J. Conroy, Chaplain, U.S. House of Representatives U.S. Capitol, Room HB25, Washington, DC 20515-6655 Phone: (202) 225-2509 Fax: (202) 226-4928 E-mail: ChaplainOffice@mail.house.gov...