2016 -- S 3005

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LC006034

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CONGRATULATING THE REVEREND DOUGLAS J. SPINA, PH.D. ON THE OCCASION

OF THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS ORDINATION

     Introduced By: Senators Satchell, Metts, Lombardi, and Gallo

     Date Introduced: May 19, 2016

     Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar

     WHEREAS, Douglas J. Spina was born on April 27, 1949, in Providence, Rhode Island,

the son of the late Angelo and Gilda Spina and the brother of Sandra A. Curran, and his brother-

in-law, Marc. Since he was a little boy of about 4 years old, he expressed a desire to serve God;

and

     WHEREAS, He attended Providence public schools, until entering Our Lady of

Providence Preparatory Seminary in Warwick, where he received his high school diploma and

admittance into the National Honor Society in 1967, and in 1971, attained his Bachelor's degree

in Liberal Arts from Our Lady of Providence Seminary College; and

     WHEREAS, Continuing his education, he received his Bachelor's degree in Religious

Studies from the University of Louvain, Belgium, in 1973, his Master's degree in Religious

Studies in 1974, and a Master's in Moral & Religious Sciences in 1975; and

     WHEREAS, On May 1, 1974, Father Doug was ordained a deacon at the Church of St.

Anthony in Louvain by Bishop Stephen A. Leven. He returned to Rhode Island and served as

deacon assistant at St. James Church in Manville; and

     WHEREAS, On July 17, 1976, Reverend Douglas Spina was ordained a priest in St.

James Church by Bishop Louis E. Gelineau. He then returned to the University of Louvain and

was awarded his Ph.D. in Religious Studies on June 24, 1979; and

     WHEREAS, Over the ensuing years, Father Doug ministered in a number of parishes as

an assistant priest including St. Augustine's Church in Providence, St. Clement's Church in

Warwick, St. Mary's Church in Newport, the Cathedral of S.S. Peter & Paul in Providence, St.

Mary's Church in Bristol, and St. Joan of Arc Church in Cumberland. He was also assigned

Pastor at a number of churches in Rhode Island including St. Anthony's Church in Woonsocket,

Our Lady of Grace Church in Johnston, St. Martha's Church in East Providence, and St. Kevin's

Church in Warwick; and

     WHEREAS, In addition, through the years, Father Doug has served in a variety of

specialized ministries including serving as CYO Regional Director, an instructor of Italian

grammar, literature and advanced writing skills, at the Ursuline Convent School, Tildonc,

Belgium, instructor of Religion at Our Lady of Providence Preparatory Seminary in Providence,

as Chaplain at Roger Williams University, as an Associate Professor/Chaplain at Salve Regina

University, as a part-time professor/chaplain at Bryant University, as chaplain to the Knights of

Columbus, St. Lawrence Council, North Providence, as assistant chaplain Mary Doran Council,

West Warwick, and as chaplain to the Johnston Police/Fire Departments; and

     WHEREAS, Father Doug is also the author of myriad articles written in the areas of

Philosophy, Theology and American Literature, and has been published in a variety of academic

journals. He is a published poet and a writer of short stories, and is a lyricist/song writer having

written the lyrics to "Lady of the Light" and his hymn, "Maria", which was recently included in a

CD; and

     WHEREAS, On July 1, 2012, Reverend Douglas J. Spina, Ph.D., was appointed Pastor of

St. Mary's Church in West Warwick, and was formally installed as Pastor by the Most Reverend

Robert C. Evans, DD, Auxiliary Bishop of Providence, on September 30, 2012; and

     WHEREAS, Father Doug has spent most of his life in devout service to God. Through

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

Islanders, and earned our total respect and admiration for his devotion. His greatest love is

serving the Lord as a parish priest; now, therefore be it

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

hereby pleased to honor and congratulate Reverend Douglas J. Spina, Ph.D., on the joyous

occasion of the 40th Anniversary of his Ordination. May he "grow and mature in his desire to

love God and His People," and have good health and many more years of benevolent service to

his fellow man; 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 Reverend Douglas J. Spina, Ph.D.

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LC006034

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