2007 -- S 0854

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LC02631

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2007

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

CONGRATULATING REVEREND FRANCIS A. O'LOUGHLIN ON BEING SELECTED

"CITIZEN OF THE YEAR" BY THE NEWPORT ELKS LODGE #104

     Introduced By: Senators Paiva-Weed, Gibbs, and C Levesque

     Date Introduced: March 14, 2007

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

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     WHEREAS, The Newport Elks Lodge #104, noted for their charitable acts and a wide

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variety of benevolent programs that assist the people and communities in Rhode Island, have

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selected Reverend Francis A. O'Loughlin, affectionately known as Father Frank, to be their

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"Citizen of the Year"; and

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     WHEREAS, The award was established in order to recognize and encourage "the

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principles of Charity, Justice, Brotherly Love and Fidelity" within the community. Father Frank

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has been chosen as the recipient of this prestigious award because of his consistent and selfless

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expenditure of time, talent and energy for the benefit of the people of the City of Newport; and

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     WHEREAS, Father Frank was born in Newport, one of nine children in the large and

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loving family of Francis and Catherine O'Loughlin. He was baptized at St. Mary's Church, and

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attended St. Anthony's, Portsmouth High, and Our Lady of Providence College, where he

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received a BA in 1975; and

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     WHEREAS, Having been called to the ministry, Father Frank enrolled at St. Bernard's

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Seminary, receiving a Master of Divinity Degree. He also worked on his Doctor of Ministry at

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St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore; and

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     WHEREAS, Father Frank's first assignment was as a deacon at St. Joseph's Church. He

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was ordained in 1980 at St. Anthony's Church by Bishop Kenneth Angell, and was assigned to

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serve as assistant pastor at St. Francis de Sales from 1980 until 1985, and as assistant pastor at St.

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Ann Church until 1989. In 1998, he was assigned to be pastor of Jesus Savior Church. He also

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served as Chaplain to the Cranston Police Department, Rhode Island Hospital, Newport Hospital,

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the Newport Knights of Columbus, the Newport Police and the Middletown Police Department;

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and

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     WHEREAS, As a parish pastor, a chaplain for numerous police departments, and a

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member of the Vasco da Gama-Holy Ghost Society, assistant chaplain to the Ancient Order of the

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Hibernian and an honorary member of the Viking Riders, Father Frank has worked tirelessly to

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assure the spiritual and emotional health of the people of Newport and citizens across the state;

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and

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     WHEREAS, Father Frank has earned the unqualified admiration and respect of one of the

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largest and most active fraternal organizations in the world, the Elks, as well as the citizenry of

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the City of Newport. His years of devoted service to the church and the community are truly an

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inspiration to us all; now, 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 and honors Reverend Francis A. O'Loughlin on being selected the Newport

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Elks Lodge #104 "Citizen of the Year." We applaud his accomplishments and wish him the very

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best health and continued success in all his future endeavors; and be it further

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

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transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Reverend Francis A. O'Loughlin.

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LC02631

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