Reverend Luis Cortes To Offer The Opening Prayer At The 2013 Presidential Inauguration Luncheon

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On January 8th, it was announced that The Reverend Luis Cortes will offer the invocation prayer at the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Luncheon following the Inaugural ceremonies on Monday, January 21^st.  Reverend Cortes was invited by U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer, Chairman of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC) that hosts the luncheon in honor of President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden.

Reverend Cortes said of the invitation, "I am deeply honored and privileged to accept the invitation from Chairman Schumer and the Joint Congressional Committee to participate in the inauguration ceremonies for President Obama and Vice President Biden.  We are a nation of great diversity, but we find common ground in the fundamental values of faith, hope, and working together for a bright future.  I look forward to joining many other leaders and dignitaries as we usher in the next four years of our President's administration.  This is valuable opportunity to express our solidarity as one nation under God, in pursuit of liberty, justice, peace and prosperity for all."

This year, both the inauguration and luncheon will be held on Monday the 21^st, which is also the federal holiday honoring Martin Luther King Jr., because the customary inauguration date of January 20^th falls on a Sunday.  The Inaugural Luncheon will take place at the Capitol Rotunda, and additional attendees will include the newly sworn in President and Vice President, Congressional leaders, members of the Cabinet and former Presidents and Vice Presidents who customarily attend at the Inaugural Ceremonies.

Esperanza and the Reverend Cortes will return to Washington D.C. to host the 2013 National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast and Conference from June 18-20, and hope to feature President Obama and congressional leaders from both parties as guest speakers.  For more information visit www.esperanza.us/nhpbc.

Esperanza, the premiere Hispanic Evangelical faith-based network in the country, was founded in 1987 by the Reverend Luis Cortes Jr. and the Hispanic Clergy of Philadelphia and Vicinity.  With a national network of over 13,000 Hispanic clergy and congregations and 500 faith and community based agencies, Esperanza is a leading voice for Hispanics in America.

SOURCE Esperanza