2005 -- S 1212

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LC03568

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2005

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

CONGRATULATING FATHER RICHARD A. DONNELLY ON HIS RETIREMENT

     Introduced By: Senator Hanna M. Gallo

     Date Introduced: June 30, 2005

     Referred To: Senate read and passed

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     WHEREAS, All too often we hear of people who are less than honorable in the society in

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which we live. Would society be a better place if we were to read about individuals who were

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wonderful to those around them? Father Richard A. Donnelly from St. Mark's Church in Cranston

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is one of the wonderful individuals we are referring to. He has spent his years reaching out to

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individuals in need, and providing encouragement face to face or from the altar. His kind

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encouraging words have led many to a more fulfilling life; and

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     WHEREAS, July 1, 2005 will mark the day Father Donnelly will retire from his pastoral

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duties. He will chart a new course, "spending more time in a ministry he sees as vital to the

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parish: hospital ministry." Encouragement and compassion is Father Donnelly's trademark and

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the hospital ministry position will allow him to apply these attributes more fully. When he was a

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newly-ordained curate at Blessed Sacrament Church in Providence, one of his many duties was to

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respond to sick calls at Rhode Island Hospital, so the love of helping others who are hospitalized

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is a duty Father Donnelly is glad to return; and

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     WHEREAS, Father Donnelly has served as a faithful servant of God for 14 years at the

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St. Mark's Church, Cranston, and as a teacher in two Catholic high schools, spending five years at

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LaSalle Academy in Providence and 13 years at Our Lady of Providence Preparatory Seminary

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with a few of those years as a school guidance director. He was and will continue to be a strong

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advocate for the pro-life movement and the opposition to gay marriage in Rhode Island. His

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strong catholic beliefs earned him the comment of one parishioner who stated, "I was very

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disappointed that you weren't elected pope"; and

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     WHEREAS, Although Father Donnelly is retiring from St. Mark's Church he will remain

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in residence at the parish, giving him the opportunity to still see the parishioners and stay active

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in the church as well as the Cranston-Johnston Catholic Regional School, which is directly

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affiliated with St. Mark's Church; and

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     WHEREAS, Father Richard A. Donnelly was born in Providence and attended St. Paul

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School in Cranston, LaSalle Academy, Providence and Our Lady of Providence Seminary,

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Warwick. His seminary studies were completed at St. Mary Seminary, Baltimore, MD, and on

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June 9, 1962 was ordained a priest by Bishop McVinney in the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul

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in Providence. During his early career as a priest Father Donnelly was the assistant pastor at

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Blessed Sacrament, Providence, St. Joesph's Scituate, St. Robert Bellarmine, Johnston; St.

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Patrick's Providence; and St. Clement's, Warwick. He also served as assistant director and

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director of the diocesan transitory deaconate and Episcopal deanery vicar for the West Bay

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region; and

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     WHEREAS, With this experience and a strong commitment to serve God, Father

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Donnelly will be a tremendous asset to the hospital ministry. A positive voice, a warm

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understanding ear and a heartfelt genuineness will have the patient's eyes and hearts singing with

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joy at the mere presence of Father Donnelly; 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 this extraordinary individual on his selfless and dedicated service to St.

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Mark's Church. We wish him the very best health and future happiness and continued success in

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his new ventures; 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 Father Richard A. Donnelly.

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LC03568

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