Illinois’ 18th District Representative Darin LaHood will be welcoming a Peoria nun to the house chamber for the Pope’s congressional address Thursday.
The Republican lawmaker selected Sr. Sara Kowal to join invited guests from across the country for Pope Francis’ speech. Sr. Kowal is a theology teacher and campus minister at Peoria Notre Dame High School.
LaHood, a Catholic, said in a press release that Sister Kowal is one of nearly a hundred selected guests from across the country to be watching the address in the house gallery. Each member of congress was given one guest ticket for seating in the gallery that overlooks the House Chamber.
LaHood, a Catholic, is a member of the St. Vincent DePaul Parish in Peoria.
Pope Francis is expected to speak about immigration, climate change and Planned Parenthood when he addresses a joint session of Congress. Nearly a third of U.S. lawmakers identify as Catholic -- that’s the highest representation in U.S. history.