Senate Resolution No. 3085

BY: Senator BRESLIN

COMMENDING The Honorable Howard J. Hubbard, Bishop
Emeritus upon the occasion of his designation as
recipient of the Circle of Hope Award by Hope House,
Inc. on September 16, 2017

WHEREAS, From time to time this Legislative Body takes note of
certain extraordinary individuals it wishes to recognize for their
valued contributions to the success and progress of society and publicly
acknowledge their endeavors which have enhanced the basic humanity among
us all; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commend The Honorable Howard J. Hubbard, Bishop Emeritus upon the
occasion of his designation as recipient of the Circle of Hope Award by
Hope House, Inc. to be celebrated at its Golden Anniversary Gala on
Saturday, September 16, 2017, at 90 State Street in Albany, New York;
and

WHEREAS, Founded by a group of volunteers led by then Father Howard
J. Hubbard in 1967, Hope House, Inc. of Albany, New York, has responded
to needs in the community by providing education, intervention and
treatment to persons whose lives have been affected by any form of
chemical dependency or family dysfunction; and

WHEREAS, Hope House, Inc. is dedicated to providing an array of
high-quality residential, outpatient and community-based services
developmentally focused to both adult and youth populations; these
services are provided irrespective of color, creed, age, national
origin, marital status, disability, arrest/conviction record or ability
to pay; all services truly hope to empower each individual and family to
achieve their highest level of functioning; and

WHEREAS, Howard J. Hubbard was born in Troy, New York, and attended
St. Patrick's School and LaSalle Institute before entering the Seminary
in 1956; he was ordained in Rome, Italy, on December 18, 1963; and

WHEREAS, Father Howard J. Hubbard served as Associate Pastor of both
St. Joseph's Church in Schenectady, New York, and Cathedral of The
Immaculate Conception in Albany, New York; he also served as Chaplain at
The Convent of The Sacred Heart in Albany, New York; and

WHEREAS, At the age of 38, Father Howard J. Hubbard was consecrated
the ninth Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany on March 27,
1977, making him the youngest bishop in the nation; and

WHEREAS, Throughout his service as a Bishop and a Priest, Howard J.
Hubbard not only established Hope House, but also, Providence House, a
referral and crisis intervention center, and Livcorp, an organization
whose mission is to assist those with developmental disabilities; and

WHEREAS, Bishop Howard J. Hubbard found great fulfillment in his
efforts to renew Catholics' faith; early in his distinguished career, he

led a primetime television retreat which was intended to bring wayward
Catholics back to the fold, and reinvigorate the faithful; and

WHEREAS, This steadfast effort was followed, years later, with
"Renew," a series of programs aimed at reaching out to the Catholics who
had stopped practicing the faith; more recently, the diocese completed
"Our Amazing God," an evangelization effort aimed to teach faithful
Catholics how to respectfully encourage their family, friends, and
co-workers to join the faith; and

WHEREAS, On April 10, 2014, after almost four decades of service,
Bishop Howard J. Hubbard officially retired as the longest serving
bishop in the country, serving more than 400,000 faithful Catholics; and

WHEREAS, Singular in distinction is Bishop Emeritus Howard J.
Hubbard; throughout the course of his 37 years of devoted service to
God, the Catholic Church, and the Capital Region, he has experienced
profound joys and triumphs, as well as unfortunate trials; and

WHEREAS, Bishop Emeritus Howard J. Hubbard's involvement in his
community mirrors a commitment of compelling dimension; he has always
strived to live his life with dignity, peace and love, asking his
followers to remember and rejoice in the knowledge that we are God's
people; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when a person
of such noble aims and accomplishments is brought to our attention, it
is appropriate to publicly and jubilantly proclaim and commend that
individual for the edification of others; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend The Honorable Howard J. Hubbard, Bishop Emeritus upon the
occasion of his designation as recipient of the Circle of Hope Award by
Hope House, Inc. on September 16, 2017; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Howard J. Hubbard, Bishop Emeritus.