Bill Text: IA HR113 | 2021-2022 | 89th General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: A resolution honoring Father Raphael Assamah for his dedication and service to the residents of Hamburg, Iowa, during the floods of 2019.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-04-06 - Resolution adopted. H.J. 814. [HR113 Detail]
Download: Iowa-2021-HR113-Introduced.html
House
Resolution
113
-
Introduced
HOUSE
RESOLUTION
NO.
113
BY
JACOBSEN
A
Resolution
honoring
Father
Raphael
Assamah
for
his
1
dedication
and
service
to
the
residents
of
Hamburg,
2
Iowa,
during
the
floods
of
2019.
3
WHEREAS,
the
devastating
floods
of
March
2019
4
brought
disaster
to
the
lives
and
livelihoods
of
5
residents
of
southwest
Iowa;
and
6
WHEREAS,
historic
levels
of
flooding
in
the
Missouri
7
River
basin
killed
several
people,
left
thousands
of
8
people
homeless,
and
devastated
farms,
fields,
and
9
local
businesses;
and
10
WHEREAS,
the
flood
victims
found
strength
and
11
resolve
to
rebuild
from
a
faith
source
in
the
form
of
12
Father
Raphael
Assamah;
and
13
WHEREAS,
when
Father
Assamah
arrived
to
take
14
his
post
as
pastor
of
St.
Mary’s
Catholic
Church
in
15
Hamburg,
Iowa,
he
did
not
know
that
he
would
be
the
16
right
man
for
the
right
job
at
the
right
time,
for
he
17
was
chosen
to
protect
his
parish
from
both
the
flood
18
and
COVID-19;
and
19
WHEREAS,
while
flooding
rivers
devastated
towns
20
and
villages
along
their
banks,
they
also
took
a
toll
21
on
the
spirits
of
residents,
but
the
raging
Missouri
22
and
Nishnabotna
rivers
were
no
match
for
the
5-foot,
23
7-inch,
sturdily
built
and
energy-filled
priest
from
24
the
Catholic
Archdiocese
of
Accra,
Ghana;
and
25
WHEREAS,
Father
Assamah’s
Hamburg
parish
had
26
completely
flooded
and
was
only
accessible
by
boat
or
27
helicopter,
and
most
items
that
residents
attempted
to
28
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H.R.
113
salvage
had
to
be
disposed
of;
and
1
WHEREAS,
fearing
the
devastation
would
lead
his
2
small
parish
to
despair,
Father
Assamah
deployed
a
3
power
mightier
than
mere
raging
rivers:
the
power
of
4
faith,
hope,
and
charity;
and
5
WHEREAS,
Father
Assamah
knew
that
praying
together
6
would
strengthen
the
community’s
resolve
to
build
7
together,
hope
would
make
the
community’s
future
8
brighter,
and
charity
would
bring
the
community’s
9
members
together
with
the
larger
community
of
the
10
Diocese
of
Des
Moines;
and
11
WHEREAS,
despite
the
church
building
being
under
12
water,
the
members
of
the
parish
were
not
as
Father
13
Assamah
kept
the
community
together
and
moved
the
14
Catholic
congregation
to
higher
ground
at
the
First
15
Baptist
Church,
where
they
prayed,
planned,
and
rebuilt
16
their
town
despite
the
new
challenge
of
COVID-19;
and
17
WHEREAS,
the
time
has
come
for
Iowans
to
express
18
their
gratitude;
NOW
THEREFORE,
19
BE
IT
RESOLVED
BY
THE
HOUSE
OF
REPRESENTATIVES,
That
20
the
House
of
Representatives
honors
Father
Raphael
21
Assamah
for
his
efforts,
care,
and
devotion
to
the
22
residents
of
Hamburg,
Iowa,
during
the
floods
of
2019;
23
and
24
BE
IT
FURTHER
RESOLVED,
That
the
House
of
25
Representatives
thanks
Father
Assamah
for
his
service
26
and
designates
him
an
honorary
Iowan;
and
27
BE
IT
FURTHER
RESOLVED,
That
a
copy
of
this
28
resolution
be
distributed
to
the
Bishop
of
the
29
Diocese
of
Des
Moines,
Iowa,
and
the
Archbishop
of
the
30
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