2023 -- H 6135

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CONGRATULATING THE MOST REVEREND RICHARD G. HENNING, D.D., S.T.D., ON

BEING APPOINTED BY POPE FRANCIS TO SERVE AS COADJUTOR BISHOP OF

PROVIDENCE, WITH THE RIGHT OF SUCCESSION

     Introduced By: Representatives Fenton-Fung, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Corvese, Hull,
Serpa, Vella-Wilkinson, Lima, Azzinaro, and Chippendale

     Date Introduced: March 07, 2023

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, Richard G. Henning was born in Rockville Centre, New York, to Richard

and Maureen Henning, and was raised in Valley Stream, a parishioner of Holy Name of Mary

Parish, where he also attended grammar school; and

     WHEREAS, Bishop Henning attended Chaminade High School in Mineola, New York,

and gives much credit to the Marianists for their positive effect on his faith life and commitment

to learning. He proceeded to receive his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in history from St.

John’s University, and later received his training for the priesthood at the Seminary of the

Immaculate Conception in Huntington, New York; and

     WHEREAS, Bishop Henning was ordained into the priesthood in 1992, and served for

five years as an Associate Pastor at the Church of St. Peter of Alcantara in Port Washington, NY

where he did yeoman’s pastoral work in the parish school. He also ministered to the mostly

Spanish-speaking, Salvadoran Catholic community; and

     WHEREAS, In addition to being fluent in English and Spanish, Bishop Henning speaks

Italian and can read French, Greek and Hebrew. He attained a Licentiate in Biblical Theology at

the Catholic University of America, and a Doctorate in Biblical Theology from the Pontifical

University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome; and

     WHEREAS, Upon completion of his studies, Bishop Henning became a member of the

faculty of the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington, teaching scripture for more

than ten years. He was appointed in 2012, as part of the partnership for seminary formation

among the Dioceses of Rockville Centre, Brooklyn and the Archdiocese of New York, to lead the

seminary through its transition to the largest retreat house in the Northeast; and

     WHEREAS, In 2017, Bishop Barnes appointed Bishop Henning the Episcopal Vicar for

the Central Vicariate of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, and later as an Auxiliary Bishop of the

Diocese of Rockville Center in 2018. Since June of 2021, Bishop Henning has served as the Vicar

for Clergy and Vicar for Pastoral Planning until his most recent appointment as Coadjutor Bishop

of Providence; and

     WHEREAS, On January 26 of 2023, in a Mass of Reception held at the Cathedral of SS.

Peter and Paul, nine weeks after being appointed by Pope Francis to serve as Coadjutor Bishop of

Providence with the Right of Succession, Most Reverend Richard G. Henning, D.D., S.T.D.,

presented the Papal Bull, signed by the Holy Father, to Bishop Thomas J. Tobin, D.D.,

authenticating his appointment; and

     WHEREAS, The Mass of Reception was attended by numerous Catholic Church

dignitaries including Archbishop Christopher Pierre, D.D., J.C.D., Apostolic Nuncio to the

United States, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, of New York, Cardinal Sean Patrick O’Malley, OFM

Cap., of Boston, and Metropolitan Archbishop Leonard Blair of Hartford, and many other

Catholic Bishops, with the Mass being celebrated by Bishop Tobin, with Bishop Henning

concelebrating; now, therefore be it

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

joyously celebrates the appointment by Pope Francis of Bishop Richard G. Henning, D.D.,

S.T.D., to serve as the coadjutor Bishop of Providence with the Right of Succession. We wish

him continued success in all of his new duties and responsibilities; 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 Most Reverend Richard G. Henning, D.D.,

S.T.D., Coadjutor Bishop of Providence with the Right of Succession.

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