Honor Irish Heritage Day

Assembly Resolution No. 138 BY: M. of A. Cusick HONORING St. Patrick and all persons of Irish descent upon the occasion of the 2017 celebration of St. Patrick's Day on Friday, March 17, 2017 WHEREAS, A native of Roman Britain, Patrick was the son of Calpurnius, a civil servant and deacon; and WHEREAS, Tradition has it that at age 16, Patrick was captured, along with all the servants of his father's estate, by Irish marauders, then sold to a Druid chief and taken to what is now known as County Antrim, in the Province of Ulster, Ireland; and WHEREAS, During his six years of captivity, Patrick's occupation as a slave was the tending of flocks of swine and sheep; and WHEREAS, While in Ireland, Patrick learned the Irish language and customs; and WHEREAS, During this period, Patrick experienced a religious awakening, with the Christian teachings of his family and pastors taking hold during his captivity; and WHEREAS, Driven by visions urging him to return to his native land, Patrick escaped his captors, undertaking a perilous journey in the process; and WHEREAS, Upon his return home, Patrick dedicated his life to religion, studying in France, where he was ordained a priest and later consecrated a Bishop; and WHEREAS, It was Pope Celestine I who named him Patricius and sent him back to Ireland, where he tangled with the Druids over religious beliefs and where his efforts to convert the Irish to the Catholic faith were untiring, as seen today in the significant presence of God in Irish life; and WHEREAS, It was the example and fervor of Patrick's faith that inspired and rekindled the lamp of learning in Ireland which shone throughout the British Isles and the rest of Europe, and which sustained the people of Ireland through famine, oppression and exile; and WHEREAS, As United States President John Fitzgerald Kennedy observed, Ireland has hemorrhaged herself to enrich the life's blood of other nations around the world, where its sons and daughters have risen to prominent positions as pioneers, educators, military commanders and government leaders, even ascending to the Presidency of both France and the United States; and WHEREAS, It was his faith that earned Patrick not only sainthood, but the everlasting love and respect of the Irish people; and WHEREAS, As we honor St. Patrick, whose life mirrored a deep and abiding example of the challenges of sainthood, we are mindful of the history of the Irish people and their struggle against oppression, religious intolerance and political, social and economic barriers; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to most joyously commemorate the life and good works of St. Patrick and to express its sincerest prayers and hopes that the 1998 Peace Agreement, known as the Good Friday Agreement, will lead to a lasting reconciliation between the Christian populations of Northern Ireland and bring true peace and freedom for all the people of Northern Ireland; and be it further RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted Michael J. Dowling, 256th Grand Marshal of the New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade; and John T. Dunleavy, Chairman of the New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade, on the 17th of March 2017.