Fr. Jon Thomas opening the US House of Representatives on July 16, 2026.
Now I know the C-SPAN junkies in the parish. On Thursday morning, I received a couple of emails from parishioners who were surprised to see me offering the opening prayer for the House of Representatives.
One of my roles as vicar general of the diocese is to substitute for Bishop Williams. Congressman Donald Norcross sponsored him to open a session of the House with prayer, but when the date was rescheduled due to the government shutdown, Bp. Williams had a scheduling conflict.
So on Wednesday afternoon, I made my way to Washington, DC and received overnight hospitality from the Little Sisters of the Poor, who have a home for the elderly poor near my alma mater, The Catholic University of America.
Early Thursday morning, I met John Tambussi (a St. Rose of Lima and St. Joe’s Prep graduate) from Congressman Norcross’s office at the Rayburn House Office Building near the Capitol. I was allowed to bring guests, so I invited Phil and Philip Obi, father and son, to join me. Phil was a parishioner at my seminary assignment at Resurrection Church, Burtonsville, MD, which had a large Nigerian immigrant population, and I baptized his American-born son.
After the prayer, my guests and I were photographed with Congressman Norcross, the staff chaplain, and Speaker Mike Johnson. Congressman Norcross and his staff then led a tour of the Capitol for my guests and me. Yes, we got to see a couple of areas normally off limits, including the prayer room.
Opening Prayer:
Let us pray. O God of all the nations, today in this house, we ask that you shed your grace on the United States of America.
We are grateful for our semi quincentennial. We are hopeful for our future. We are grateful for our diversity. We are hopeful for unity. We are grateful for pilgrim feet and heroes proved in liberating strife. We are hopeful for open hearts and representatives proved in cooperation .
In declaring independence from Great Britain 250 years ago, the first prayer of the Continental Congress promised that we were desiring to be henceforth dependent only on thee. If we turn to you as our Father, then crown our nation with brotherhood and sisterhood.
Give us unity from inspiration, not desperation. Unite us with a common dream, not a common enemy. Unite us as a people striving for righteousness, not a people merely arguing who is right.
Through Christ our Lord, Amen.