OBITUARY

Father Robert P. Perron

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PROVIDENCE — Rev. Robert P. Perron, passed away unexpectedly Saturday, August 1, 2020. Born in Central Falls, R.I., he was the son of the late Alfred and Florence (Lefebvre) Perron. He was educated at St. Matthew School, Central Falls, and attended Our Lady of Providence Preparatory Seminary in Providence, R.I. He attended Our Lady of Providence Seminary College in Warwick, where he was awarded the Baselin Scholarship to the Catholic University of America in Washington D.C., where he received his B.A. and M.A. in Philosophy. Upon completion of his studies at Catholic University, he attended St. Bernard Seminary in Rochester, N.Y., where he received a Master of Divinity degree and Master of Systematic Theology degree. Father was ordained to priesthood on June 6, 1981 by Bishop Louis Gelineau. He served as assistant pastor at St. Lucy, Middletown (1981). During his stay in Middletown he received a Master of Education degree specializing in counseling and guidance from Providence College. He also co-founded Lucy’s Hearth, a temporary shelter for women and children. His assignments in the priesthood include: Assistant pastor at Our Lady of Mercy, East Greenwich (1986); and member, team ministry, St. Michael, Providence, (1988); as pastor, Notre Dame Central Falls (1992) founding Holy Spirit Catholic Community; as pastor, All Saints Catholic Community Woonsocket (2001); administrator, St. Joseph and Sacred Heart, Pawtucket (2007). In 2009, he was appointed pastor of the newly formed Holy Family parish which consists of Our Lady of Consolation, Sacred Heart, and St. Joseph parishes, Pawtucket. He then was assigned to Saint Joseph Church, West Warwick, and then to Saint Michael’s Church, Providence.
At the time of his death, Father Perron was pastor at St. Michael Parish, Providence, where his tenure as pastor began in 2016.
In addition to his parish duties, Father was Dean/Vicar Forane for Deanery VII (1990-92); Deanery XII (2003-07); and Deanery I (2013-14). From 2014 until the time of his death, he served as the Diocesan Director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith. With Sister Susan Jenkinson, Father Perron co-founded “Lucy’s Hearth” in the unused convent at St. Lucy Parish, Middletown, to provide a place of respite for single women and children. Through the years the organization has grown in scope and it has been a source of pride for generous benefactors in Newport County for 36 years.
He is survived by his sister, Joanne Cranshaw and her husband, Tom, his niece, Cherie Perron and three nephews, Thomas Perron, Stephen Cranshaw and David Cranshaw. He was the brother of the late Thomas Perron.
A Mass of Christian Burial was offered at Holy Spirit Parish, Central Falls, on Aug. 6. Bishop Thomas J. Tobin was the main celebrant and Auxiliary Bishop Robert C. Evans was the principal concelebrant, with priests from around the Diocese concelebrating. Diocesan Chancellor Father Timothy D. Reilly preached the homily. Burial immediately followed at Notre Dame Cemetery, Central Falls.
Donations in Father Perron’s memory to the Providence Haiti Outreach, 125 Scituate Ave, Cranston, R.I., 02921, would be greatly appreciated.