WHEREAS, Saint Joseph, Holy Patriarch and Patron Saint of Workers, known by his deeds, was a man of quiet courage and deep faith who was tested in Nazareth, Bethlehem, and Egypt; and

WHEREAS, Humble yet noble, patient yet determined, Saint Joseph accepted his burdens and bore them with dignity, all the while exhibiting an enduring strength as family patriarch, guide, and guardian during the most perilous of times; and

WHEREAS, Saint Joseph is celebrated by Christians around the world, from the tropical heat of the Philippines, to the ancient thoroughfares of Rome, to the storied walls of San Juan Capistrano, as the embodiment of family solidarity – a dedicated, humble, hardworking father and husband; and

WHEREAS, On March 19^th, the annual celebration of the Feast of Saint Joseph – nearly 2000 years after his sojourn on earth came to an end – Italian-Americans and all others renew their efforts to emulate the just peace of a loving and beloved man, the wealth of faith, and the noble overcoming of adversity displayed by Saint Joseph; and

WHEREAS, Italians and Italian-Americans celebrate the prevention of a Sicilian famine in the Middle Ages as a miracle attributed to Saint Joseph; and

WHEREAS, Italian immigrants to Rhode Island helped form the cultural foundation of our state and today they sing the praises of Saint Joseph as songs of inclusion, of strength tempered by faith, of sacrifice for family, and of the glorious gift of honest labor; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby commemorates the celebration of the Feast of St. Joseph and the principles his life celebrates.