R 126
2021 -- H 6134
Enacted 03/16/2021

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N
COMMEMORATING THE CELEBRATION OF ST. JOSEPH'S DAY

Introduced By: Representatives Corvese, Costantino, Azzinaro, Cardillo, Amore, McEntee, Vella-Wilkinson, Ruggiero, Serpa, and McLaughlin

Date Introduced: March 16, 2021

     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 19th, the annual celebration of the Feast of Saint Joseph – more
than 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 House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby
commemorates the celebration of the Feast of St. Joseph and the principles his life celebrates; 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 Italian American Historical Society of
Rhode Island.
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LC002395
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