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USF President Delivers Invocation at Opening of Congress
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USF President Stephen A. Privett, S.J. delivered the invocation at the opening of the 110th Congress at the invitation of Rep. Nancy Pelosi, who was sworn in as speaker of the House. More photos of the event can be seen here.
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University of San Francisco President Stephen A. Privett, S.J. called upon Congressional leaders to put aside self-interest and to pursue the common good of all people during the invocation of the opening of the 110th Congress and the swearing in of Nancy Pelosi as the speaker of the House of Representatives Jan. 4.
"We pray that the new leadership of this Congress and all of its members will write into law the story of a country that measures its success by God's standards," Fr. Privett said.
Pelosi had asked Fr. Privett to deliver the prayer. The two struck up a friendship after Pelosi attended Fr. Privett's inauguration as USF president in November 2000. Pelosi was sworn in Jan. 4 as the first woman to serve as the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Fr. Privett ended his prayer by encouraging lawmakers to focus their time on "those who need us the most."
During a five-minute interview on KTVU-TV's Mornings on Two, Fr. Privett said the mood in Washington on the morning of Jan. 4 could be characterized by anticipation, excitement, and hope. When asked how Pelosi's Catholic faith relates to her politics, he returned to the theme of his prayer, saying "both religion and politics are about bringing hope to despair."
The full text of Fr. Privett's prayer can be found on the president's website at: www.usfca.edu/president/homilies/congress07_prayer.html
Click for a gallery of additional photos from the invocation 
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