Reverend Richard B. Kunst
St. James Catholic Church
Duluth, MN
Sponsor: Rep. Pete Stauber, (R-MN)
Date of Prayer: 05/08/2019
One Minute Speech Given in Recognition of the Guest Chaplain:
Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my friend, Father Richard Kunst, an ordained Catholic priest for the Diocese of Duluth in northern Minnesota.
Before ordination, Father Kunst was a Senate staffer for United States Senator Rod Grams out of Minnesota. He earned his B.A. in political science from Saint Mary’s University in Winona, Minnesota,
and a master of divinity from Saint John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota.
Father Kunst has had several parish assignments in northeastern Minnesota, including parishes in Brainerd, Cromwell, Floodwood, Meadowlands, and three different assignments in Duluth. He was the vocations director for the Duluth diocese for 12 years and has been the bishop’s representative for the diocesan newspaper, The Northern Cross, since 2005. Father Kunst has also been the auditor of the diocesan tribunal since 2000.
As a hobby, Father Kunst collects artifacts associated with the
history of the Vatican and the popes and has one of the largest private collections in the world.
I consider Father Kunst to be a great friend to my wife and me, and I
am grateful that he can be here today to open this wonderful Chamber up with a prayer.;
Opening Prayer Given by the Guest Chaplain:
Heavenly Father, we pray blessings upon the proceedings of this Chamber this day. May the Members of Congress and all government officials see their authority to govern as a sharing of Your authority, O Heavenly Lord.
And to this end, may the deliberations of today and always support the right of every citizen of the United States to have life, liberty, and the pursuant of happiness. And may our Nation’s motto, “In God We Trust,” be more than simple words on our currency but, rather, the true spirit in which our great Nation is governed.
We ask that You continue to be present to this great Nation and to answer our prayers by Your great love.
Amen.
Here is a link to Father Richard Kunst’s prayer as a guest chaplain in the house of representatives in Washington, D. C.
The Curator of Papal Artifacts wears many hats, one of which is his interest in all things political. Having majored in political science as an undergraduate he was fortunate to work for a senator (Senator Rod Grams of Minnesota) before being captured by Our Lord for the work of his life as a priest.
So, how wonderful for him he was given the opportunity to offer this prayer in the House of Representatives in May 2019.
We share his joy for this opportunity for him.
We share our joy that God called him to ordination.
And he accepted!
Opening Prayer
Wednesday, May 8, 2019
Rev. Richard B. Kunst
St. James Catholic Church
Duluth, Minnesota
Heavenly Father, we pray blessings upon the proceedings of this Chamber this day. May the Members of Congress and all government officials see their authority to govern as a sharing of Your authority, O Heavenly Lord.
And to this end, may the deliberations of today and always support the right of every citizen of the United States to have life, liberty, and the pursuant of happiness. And may our Nation’s motto, “In God We Trust,” be more than simple words on our currency but, rather, the true spirit in which our great Nation is governed.
We ask that You continue to be present to this great Nation and to answer our prayers by Your great love.
Amen.
From the Northern Cross, the Duluth Diocesan Paper, June 2019:
Father Richard Kunst, pastor of St. James and St Elizabeth in Duluth, had an unusual flock far from home May 9—the U.S. House of Representatives, where he served as guest chaplain.
The honor came through U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber, R-Minn. who introduced him on the floor of Congress as “a great friend” and cited Father Kunst’s parish assignments and other service in the diocese, as well as his previous work in politics, which included a bachelor’s degree in political science and work as a Senate staffer for the late U. S. Senator Rod Grams.
“The experience was great,” Father Kunst said in an interview with the Northern Cross. “Not too many people get to be on the floor of the U.S. House, and then to lead the prayer from the exact spot where presidents deliver the State of the Union was what really made me feel the historic import of the place.”
He noted that he has been friends with Stauber and his wife for years, and that the nomination came, “because he knew I have an interest in politics and history. I’m very grateful to him for such an honor.”
Father Kunst also delivered the opening prayer for President Trump’s rally in Duluth last summer.
“Politics can be a delicate balance for a priest.” Father Kunst said. He said he is open about his conservative principles and values and does speak to issues as a priest but also never promotes “any candidate in any public setting.”
Here is the prayer he delivered from the U.S. Congress.
(Prayer featured above on Papal Artifacts.)
