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Bishop provides Bible for Kilili’s swearing in
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Posted on Jan 05 2009
[B]WASHINGTON, D.C.[/B]—Northern Mariana Islands Delegate-elect Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan will use a Bible brought from the Northern Marianas for his ceremonial swearing in at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, Jan. 6 (Wednesday, Saipan time).
The Bible was provided by Bishop Tomas A. Camacho of the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa, who also blessed the Holy Book.
“By taking my oath on this Holy Book I feel that I am bringing to Congress the prayers and hopes of the people of the Northern Marianas for an improved relationship between the Northern Marianas and the rest of the United States,” Sablan said.
Sablan is the first Delegate elected to Congress by the people of the Northern Mariana Islands. The position of Delegate was created with the passage of U.S. Public Law 110-229 on May 8, 2008.
The Bible will be used during a swearing in ceremony conducted by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in the Rayburn Room, just off the main floor of the House of Representatives. The event will be attended by a number of CNMI dignitaries, including Gov. Benigno R. Fitial and Chief Justice Miguel S. Demapan. It is part of the all-day process of convening the 111th US Congress.
In addition to the prayers embodied in the Bible, Sablan asked for the “continued prayers of the people of the Northern Marianas. We are embarking on a new level of participation in our national government, one that should open to us more of the benefits of our permanent relationship with the United States.”
Sablan’s wife Andrea, who is in Washington for the ceremonies with son Jesse and daughter Patricia, will carry the Bible back to the Northern Marianas. “It will be returned to the Diocese Curia for safekeeping,” Sablan explained, “and with the hope that this Bible will be used for the same purpose by future citizens elected to serve the people of the Northern Mariana Islands in the U.S. Congress. [B][I](PR)[/I][/B]
