2013 -- S 1004

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LC02790

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

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S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N

CONGRATULATING FATHER CLIFFORD CABRAL ON HIS RETIREMENT

     Introduced By: Senator P Fogarty

     Date Introduced: June 20, 2013

     Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar

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     WHEREAS, All too often those people who contribute to society the most are among the

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least recognized. Their life’s work touches many, while their characteristic modesty and emphasis

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on the needs of others mean that these gifts are given with no expectation of reward or

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reciprocation; and

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     WHEREAS, Father Clifford Cabral, Pastor of St. Joseph’s Church in Pascoag, is one

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such wonderful individual. He has spent his life reaching out to people in need and providing

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them with loving encouragement, both one-on-one and from the altar. His kind, uplifting, and

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profound words have led many to a more fulfilling spiritual existence; and

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     WHEREAS, Clifford J. Cabral was born in Tiverton, Rhode Island, to John and Lillian

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Cabral. He graduated from Tiverton High School in 1970. After contemplating the priesthood for

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some time, he entered the College Seminary of Our Lady of Providence in Warwick Neck,

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graduating in 1974 with a Bachelor’s degree in Literature; and

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     WHEREAS, Father Cabral was ordained into the priesthood after completing his

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theological training at the American College of the University of Louvain in Belgium in 1978,

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where he received a Master's Degree in Religious Studies. While in Europe, he assisted with

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English Religious Education classes in Brussels and the Hague in Holland, as well as at several

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American military bases in Germany; and

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     WHEREAS, Upon returning to Rhode Island, Father Cabral was appointed to Saint

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Catherine’s Parish, Warwick, as a transitory deacon. He was ordained a Priest on June 30, 1979,

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in his home parish of Saint Christopher, Tiverton; and

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     WHEREAS, His first Mass of Thanksgiving was the next day at Saint Catherine’s. Father

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Cabral was assigned as the assistant pastor at Saint Luke’s Church, Barrington, where he spent

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the first eight years of ministry and especially enjoyed his role as Priest Moderator of the Young-

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at-Heart Senior Group, which he was responsible for establishing. He was also the eighth grade

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Religion teacher at that parish; and

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     WHEREAS, In 1987, Father Cabral was transferred to Saint Matthew’s Church,

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Cranston, as one of three assistants to the pastor. After being an ordained Priest for seventeen

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years, Father Cabral was promoted to Pastor at Saint Joseph’s Church, Pascoag, in 1996 where he

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has remained for almost two decades; and

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     WHEREAS, Father Cabral has spent his life in devout service to God. Through that

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unification, he has served and blessed the faithful, enriched the spiritual lives of many Rhode

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Islanders, and earned our respect and admiration for his devotion and accomplishments; now,

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therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

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hereby congratulates Father Clifford Cabral on his selfless and dedicated service to Saint Joseph’s

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Church and to the Catholic community throughout Rhode Island. We wish him the very best

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health, future happiness, and continued success in his new ventures; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby authorized and directed to

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transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Father Clifford Cabral.

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LC02790

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