10-R285

2010 -- H 8193

Enacted 05/27/10

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

HONORING AND THANKING FATHER JOHN E. UNSWORTH

Introduced By: Representatives Savage, Melo, and DaSilva

Date Introduced: May 27, 2010

     WHEREAS, John E. Unsworth attended Sacred Heart School followed by East

Providence High School and Our Lady of Providence High School. He attained his Bachelor’s

degree in Philosophy from Our Lady of Providence Seminary College and his Master’s degree in

Religious Studies from American College - Catholic University of Louvain; and

     WHEREAS, Father Unsworth was ordained as Transitional Deacon at St. Joseph Church

in Belgium and was ordained to the holy priesthood on September 11th of 1976 at Our Lady of

Mercy in East Greenwich; and

     WHEREAS, In 1976, Father Unsworth was assigned to St. Mary’s Church in Newport as

an Associate Pastor. He was subsequently assigned to St. Matthew’s as an Associate Pastor,

followed by being named Pastor to St. Mary’s, and in 1996, he returned to his home City of East

Providence to become Pastor of St. Brendan’s. Father Unsworth has always strove to endow his

parishioners with leadership and spiritual guidance. He has carried out the requirements and

responsibilities of his title with supreme faith, absolute love, and compelling wisdom. In July of

2010, he was named Pastor of St. Bernard’s in Wickford; and

     WHEREAS, In addition to providing for the spiritual needs of his parishioners, Father

Unsworth has also proven to be a dynamic force within the church community. He has served as

the Episcopal Deanery Vicar, as a member of the Budget Review Committee for Religious

Education, as a member and the Chair of the Building Commission, and as the Chaplain to the

East Providence Fire Department, and teaches an online coarse in sacramental theology as part of

Providence College’s religious certification program for Catholic school teachers; and

WHEREAS, Father Unsworth has spent most of his life in devout service to God. He was

the first recipient of the “Distinguished Pastor Award” given by National Catholic Education

Association in recognition of his personal commitment and effective leadership of Catholic

Education in the Providence Diocese and at St. Brendan’s Parish; and

     WHEREAS, Through that unification, he has served and blessed the faithful, enriched the

spiritual lives of many Rhode Islanders, and earned our utmost respect and admiration for his

achievements; now, therefore be it

      RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations is hereby pleased to honor and thank Father John E. Unsworth for his

fifteen years of dedicated service to the parishioners of St. Brendan’s Parish in Riverside. We

furthermore wish him continued success and many more years of benevolent service in his new

assignment as Pastor of St. Bernard’s Parish in Wickford; and be it further

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

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Father John Unsworth.

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LC02762

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