2026 -- S 3236

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LC006343

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CONGRATULATING AND EXALTING THE PARISH OF ST. LUCY CATHOLIC CHURCH

ON THE JOYOUS OCCASION OF THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF ITS FOUNDING

     Introduced By: Senator Louis P. DiPalma

     Date Introduced: April 30, 2026

     Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar

     WHEREAS, In the year of our Lord 1951, the Most Reverend Russell J. McVinney,

Bishop of Providence, recognized the pastoral needs of the growing Catholic community in

Middletown, as well as those serving at the Newport Naval Base, now known as Naval Station

Newport; and

     WHEREAS, In response to these needs, the Diocese of Providence purchased

approximately thirty acres of land, formerly known as the Brookfield Dairy Farm, with the vision

of establishing a parish complex including a church, school, and convent; and

     WHEREAS, On May 23, 1951, Bishop McVinney formally established the Parish of St.

Lucy Catholic Church from portions of St. Joseph’s and St. Mary’s Parishes in Newport,

appointing the Reverend James P. Casey as its first pastor; and

     WHEREAS, On June 10, 1951, the first Holy Mass of the parish was celebrated by

Father Casey at Anchorage Hall, marking the humble yet faith-filled beginnings of a vibrant and

enduring parish community; and

     WHEREAS, On September 16, 1951, groundbreaking ceremonies were held for the

construction of the original church building, a moment that symbolized the faith, dedication, and

unity of its founding parishioners; and

     WHEREAS, The church was formally dedicated on June 15, 1952, and in the decades

that followed, the parish continued to grow, including the establishment of a school and convent,

and later the construction of a new church building dedicated in 1990; and

     WHEREAS, Throughout its distinguished 75-year history, St. Lucy Parish has stood as a

beacon of faith, compassion, and service, welcoming generations of families and ministering to

the spiritual, pastoral, and social needs of the entire Aquidneck Island community, regardless of

creed or circumstance; and

     WHEREAS, The parish has also demonstrated a deep commitment to charitable outreach,

including support for those in need through ministries such as sheltering women and children, and

fostering a spirit of generosity and inclusion; and

     WHEREAS, As St. Lucy Catholic Church celebrates the milestone of its 75th

Anniversary, it does so with a proud legacy of faith, a vibrant present, and a hopeful future

grounded in service, community, and devotion; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby congratulates and

extols the Parish of St. Lucy Catholic Church on the joyous occasion of the 75th Anniversary of

its founding, and expresses its deepest appreciation for its many decades of faithful service to the

community; and be it further

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

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Parish of St. Lucy Catholic Church.

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