Daniel Coughlin

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Daniel P. Coughlin STL (born November 8, 1934) is the chaplain of the United States House of Representatives. Appointed in March 2000, he is the first Roman Catholic priest to serve as House chaplain.

Reverend Daniel P. Coughlin graduated from Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary and then St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, Illinois with a degree in Theology. Coughlin was ordained for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago on 3 May 1960. In 1968 Coughlin received a degree in Pastoral Studies from Loyola University, Chicago.

From 1985-1990 Coughlin was pastor at St. Francis Xavier Parish in La Grange, Illinois. He then became Director of the Cardinal Strich Retreat House in Mundelein, Illinois. In 1995 he began working as Vicar for Priests of the Archdiocese of Chicago under Joseph Cardinal Bernardin and later Francis Cardinal George. He held that position until he was sworn in as Chaplain.

The Honorable Dennis Hastert interviewed Coughlin on 13 March 2000 Coughlin was sworn in as the fifty-ninth Chaplain for the 106th Congress on 23 March.