WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Very Reverend Ernesto Medina, provost for the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, served as guest chaplain and led the United States House of Representatives in its opening prayer this morning.
Rev. Medina was invited to Washington to be guest chaplain at the behest of Representative Xavier Becerra (CA – 31). In addition to his duties as provost, Rev. Medina is also the pastor of the Cathedral Center of St. Paul, which is located in Rep. Becerra’s congressional district.
Below is Rev. Medina’s prayer as offered up on the House Floor this morning:
“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 of 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.”
Following the opening prayer, Rep. Becerra highlighted Rev. Medina's impressive background and commitment to his community in a speech given on the House Floor. Below are Rep. Becerra's remarks:
“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, and as well of 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 in 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 effort of Rev. Medina, several families would have been left homeless. But quickly, Rev. 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; and today, the parish of Cathedral Center is much blessed by the work that has been done by Rev. Medina.
“His compassion, not only for the residents of Echo Park, but for all of Los Angeles, has exemplified the type of work that has been done by the Episcopalian Church, and I am very proud to say that today, the first day perhaps in more than two weeks when we see the sun out in Washington D.C., that Rev. Medina has come forward. I thank the Speaker for this opportunity to express some thoughts, and I thank the reverend for making the trip to Washington, D.C., and bringing the sunshine with him.”