Honor Father Peter Young

2017 WHEREAS, Individuals who give of their time and energies and serve the best interests of their communities are an asset beyond remuneration and cannot be sufficiently extolled; and WHEREAS, Father Peter Young has given not only of his time and energies but also of his competence, intelligence and leadership and consequently has been designated for special honor; and WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Father Peter Young upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of the Hope and Hospitality Award by the Circles of Mercy, to be celebrated at its Annual Gala "A Taste of Mercy" on Wednesday, June 14, 2017, at the Shaker Ridge Country Club in Loudonville, New York; and WHEREAS, Circles of Mercy, sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy Northeast Community, is dedicated to improving the quality of life in the community by working to end the cycle of poverty, especially among women and women with children; and WHEREAS, This vital organization honors the dignity of each person by offering hospitality and providing services, compassion, stewardship, leadership and collaboration, which is performed in an effort to instill hope and empower individuals to reach their full potential; and WHEREAS, Established in 2004, the Hope and Hospitality Award is presented annually to someone in the local community who exemplifies the charisma of the Sisters of Mercy; the recipient lives a merciful life, exemplified by the sharing of their time, talent and treasure, in support of the Sisters of Mercy and their sponsored ministry, Circles of Mercy; and WHEREAS, Peter Young's first assignment as a priest was in a poverty stricken downtown section of Albany considered the combat zone; and WHEREAS, During the day, Peter Young taught at the parish school in Albany, however at night he would take in up to 200 men and women looking for a place to sleep at the school's gymnasium; and WHEREAS, Often, these people turned violent, requiring Peter Young to restrain them at night; the next morning, he would sit and talk with those same individuals and discovered they were decent people, caught in addiction; and WHEREAS, Throughout the years, Peter Young realized that the laws criminalizing addiction were unjust; he diligently worked to educate everyone about the disease of addiction and developed a treatment model called the Comprehensive Alcohol and Substance Abuse Treatment Program, which is still in use today; and WHEREAS, Over the years, Peter Young has founded and been involved with numerous organizations offering treatment, housing and vocational programs; and WHEREAS, Throughout the entire period of his community service, a period of constructive involvement, Peter Young has stood constant in dignity, good grace and humor; and WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the impressive dedication shown by an individual for the benefit of others which Peter Young has displayed throughout his life; and WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individuals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to honor Father Peter Young upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of the Hope and Hospitality Award by Circles of Mercy on June