PROVIDENCE — The Diocese of Providence is mourning the passing of Most Reverend Louis E. Gelineau, D.D., J.C.L, S.T.L., Bishop Emeritus of Providence, who died peacefully on November 7, at the age of 96, at Saint Antoine Residence in North Smithfield.
Bishop Gelineau served as the sixth Bishop of Providence for more than 25 years, from January 26, 1972, until his retirement June 11, 1997, when he was succeeded by Bishop Robert E. Mulvee, D.D., J.C.D.
“Bishop Gelineau will be remembered as one of the great figures in the history of the Diocese of Providence,” Bishop Tobin told Rhode Island Catholic. “Present among us for more than 50 years, his contributions are enormous, and the impact of his ministry widespread and long-lasting.
“Personally, I always enjoyed the opportunity of being with Bishop Gelineau. He was affirming, positive and upbeat. Without fail he encouraged me in my ministry, especially during difficult and challenging moments. ‘I know how hard it is,’ he said in his calming voice. ‘But you’re doing a good job!’”
Bishop Tobin said that he believes the last time that Bishop Gelineau was in the cathedral, at least for a public event, was for the celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the Diocese of Providence in June 2022.
“I recall so vividly that when I acknowledged his presence at the beginning of Mass, the faithful spontaneously broke into long and loud applause. It was a very emotional and inspiring start to our celebration,” he said.
Spanning more than 25 years, Bishop Gelineau’s ministry as diocesan bishop was the second longest in diocesan history.
On December 6, 1971, when he was appointed to serve as Bishop of Providence, he at first resisted.
“When I was called to go by my bishop, I said ‘I’m not going to Rhode Island,’” Bishop Gelineau laughed, telling Rhode Island Catholic in a January 2022 interview — on the occasion of his 50th anniversary of episcopal consecration — how much he had loved his native Vermont and couldn’t see himself moving away and serving the Church elsewhere.
But after Burlington Bishop Robert Francis Joyce told him his appointment had been made by Pope Paul VI and that he needed to honor it, he prepared himself to come to Providence.
“That first day I was here I realized that I was supposed to come here. I really felt that was what God was doing for me and asking of me,” Bishop Gelineau said.
It was Bishop Joyce who ordained him in the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul on Jan. 26, 1972.
The new shepherd was received warmly in the Diocese of Providence, where he emphasized the pastoral dimension of his office and especially enjoyed traveling throughout the diocese to meet his flock, leading to him oftentimes being referred to as “the people’s bishop.”
His schedule was filled with meetings, parish celebrations, anniversary dinners, special liturgies and confirmations. He also often visited the sick in hospitals and nursing homes.
In 1973, a year after his episcopal ordination, Bishop Gelineau followed the call of the Second Vatican Council and established in the Diocese of Providence a permanent diaconate program. Three years later, he ordained the first permanent deacons to serve as assistants to the bishop, as well as chaplains to state institutions and nursing homes, and eventually to parishes as well.
Early in his administration, he created the vicariate structure — still employed today — which organized the day-to-day operations of the burgeoning diocesan ministries under the leadership of vicars who report to the bishop on business in their areas of responsibility.
A Catholic youth ministry center was established in Cranston, and named after Bishop Gelineau’s episcopal motto, “Rejoice in Hope.”
In his first two years, again in the spirit of the Second Vatican Council, Bishop Gelineau appointed a number of episcopal vicars who exercised the bishop’s authority in administering their areas of oversight in the diocese.
Seeking to continue the reshaping of the administrative structure of the diocese begun under Bishop McVinney, Bishop Gelineau established a productive relationship with the Priests’ Senate, which his predecessor had formed in 1967 to advise and assist the bishop.
In a later effort, in accordance with canon law, Bishop Gelineau created a diocesan Council of Priests to replace the Priests’ Senate in 1978.
In August 1974, Bishop Gelineau created the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish community to better serve the spiritual needs of the growing Hispanic immigrant community in Rhode Island and worked to secure more Spanish-speaking clergy.
That same month, the Vatican granted Bishop Gelineau’s request for an auxiliary bishop. Msgr. Kenneth A. Angell, who then served as diocesan chancellor, was chosen for the office. At the same time, Bishop Gelineau appointed him to serve as vicar general, succeeding Msgr. Daniel P. Reilly, who was named Bishop of Norwich, Connecticut, in June 1975.
Bishop Angell enjoyed a good working relationship and close friendship with Bishop Gelineau. On October 6, 1992, Bishop Angell was appointed Bishop of Burlington, Vermont.
In the 1970s, Bishop Gelineau traveled to Marigot, in southern Haiti, leading him to create the Providence-Haiti Outreach project, starting with the opening of a two-classroom school serving 50 students — which today serves more than 350 children annually.
During his time as a bishop, he ordained more than 120 men to the priesthood.
In February 1995, Bishop Gelineau launched a successful $40 Million, three-year diocesan capital campaign called “Vision of Hope” to provide long term financial support for parishes, projects and ministries.
During his time as the bishop of Providence, he also appeared regularly in his own television show, “Rejoice in Hope,” broadcast on local Catholic cable TV as well as a weekly column in the Providence Visitor (now the Rhode Island Catholic) called, “Ask the Bishop.”
Bishop Gelineau’s retirement was accepted by the Holy Father on June 11, 1997. In retirement, he continued assisting his successor as Bishop Emeritus and served as Defender of the Bond for the diocesan tribunal.
Following his retirement, Bishop Gelineau continued to live for a while at the Cathedral Residence before moving to serve as chaplain at the St. Antoine Residence and Villa, with a period of residence also at Precious Blood Parish in Woonsocket. He then moved back to St. Antoine, where, in January 2022, he marked a very special milestone: the 50th anniversary of his episcopal ordination.
Bishop Tobin said at the time that it is a rare privilege for a bishop to be able to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his episcopal consecration.
“Celebrating 50 years as a bishop is a milestone that very few bishops are privileged to attain,” Bishop Tobin said in an interview with the Rhode Island Catholic.
Although arthritis in his knees confined him to a special wheelchair for mobility in his 90s, Bishop Gelineau was well-accustomed to quickly shuffling his feet as he moved himself about in that chair with relative ease around the Villa at St. Antoine, where he resided at the time.
At the Villa, Bishop Gelineau delighted in the friendships he made with fellow residents, and even prayed each day with several people in the chapel or who called him on the phone.
On the occasion of his 50th anniversary of episcopal ordination, Bishop Gelineau told the Rhode Island Catholic that he very much enjoyed the 25 years that he served as shepherd of the Diocese of Providence.
“I loved being among the crowds of people and leading them at Mass,” Bishop Gelineau said. “I used to really enjoy trying to do a sermon that would really hit them and be understanding for them. I loved being out. I had a good staff in the building, so I could get out among the people. And I had a good relationship, I think, with the priests of the diocese.”
Bishop Gelineau would often spend his weekends traveling around the diocese, visiting individual parishes for an entire weekend. He would stay at the rectory and meet the staff while celebrating Mass and connecting with the faithful afterwards.
“I enjoyed it. I loved the work,” he said.
In 2017, Bishop Gelineau was recognized with a Lumen Gentium award from Bishop Tobin for his dedicated and faithful service to the Diocese of Providence.
He acknowledged that times had changed since he served as a shepherd and that bishops today have more challenges than he ever had, not the least of which has been trying to keep the faithful safe while continuing to nourish them spiritually.
He freely admitted, and even apologized at the time of his interview, the fact that it had become more difficult for him to quickly recall specific dates and details of his 25 years of his service as shepherd of the Diocese of Providence. However, he harkened back to his early days in Vermont with vivid clarity as he pointed to photos on the wall above him of the Catholic schools he attended in his formative years in Burlington.
He also happily shared a book of photos taken of him over the years, pointing to one in particular of his late mother Juliette. Reminiscing about those early days often brought tears to his eyes.
Bishop Gelineau said that when the time comes and he passes on, he would be buried in a four-person family grave in Burlington, Vermont, along with his dear parents and one of his brothers.
“My mother especially mentioned it many times — ‘We’ve got room for you in that cemetery,’” he said with a smile, so that’s where he wishes to be buried following a Mass of Christian Burial at the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul on Saturday, Nov. 16.
Bishop Gelineau was born on May 3, 1928, in Burlington, the son of Leon G. and Juliette Baribault Gelineau. He was educated at St. Joseph’s Elementary School and then Cathedral High School, Burlington and earned a Licentiate in Sacred Theology from St. Paul’s University in Ottawa, Canada, and a Licentiate in Canon Law from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 5, 1954, and served the Diocese of Burlington as an Assistant Pastor, Assistant Chancellor, Diocesan Director of the Society of the Propagation of the Faith, hospital chaplain, Chancellor, and Vicar General.
Former Auxiliary Bishop Robert C. Evans, D.D, J.C.L., said he was privileged to work side by side with Bishop Gelineau in various capacities for 14 years, including as his priest secretary and in other administrative chancery offices.
“I can honestly say that he lived his episcopal motto, ‘Rejoice in hope,’” he said.
Bishop Evans said he knew Bishop Gelineau to be a man of prayer who at the same time was a man of the people, accepting numerous invitations to events both religious and secular.
“He was always aware that his ministry was not confined to a sanctuary or an office but was among the People of God wherever they were to be found,” Bishop Evans said.
“He practiced a simplicity of life, truly a life of spiritual poverty, never putting himself or his wants first but always at the service of others. While there is much that could be said about his 25 years of episcopal ministry, I think his many years ministering quietly and faithfully to the residents of St. Antoine Residence and St. Antoine Villa should not be forgotten.”
He said that in his last years, Bishop Gelineau had himself become the patient, not just the chaplain.
“In God’s Divine Providence, Bishop Gelineau’s long Good Friday has finally given way to a glorious Easter Sunday,” Bishop Evans said.
Bishop Salvatore R. Matano, S.T.L, J.C.D., a Providence native and shepherd of Rochester, New York, said he united with the Diocese of Providence in praying for the repose of the soul of Bishop Gelineau.
Like Bishop Angell, Bishop Matano was also a Providence native who went on to serve as Bishop of Burlington, Bishop Gelineau’s home diocese.
“He always demonstrated an interest and support for my ministry as the bishop of Burlington,” said Bishop Matano, who would later be appointed to serve as shepherd of Rochester.
He said that Bishop Gelineau had a great devotion to our Blessed Mother, and he faithfully prayed the rosary.
“His life was similar to the mysteries of the rosary: times of joy, times of sorrow, times of glorious moments and always lived in the luminous mysteries, the light of Christ,” Bishop Matano said.
One of several positions that Bishop Matano held while serving Bishop Gelineau in the Diocese of Providence was Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia.
He said that Bishop Gelineau was always an example of dedication to his apostolic ministry and that all who serve as priests and bishops must give their lives in service to Jesus regardless of the challenges or crosses that we may encounter.
“While he faced many challenges and difficult circumstances, he always believed that Jesus accompanied him throughout this ministry. His deep faith in Jesus brought him light where there was darkness, hope where there could have been despair. Rightly, his motto was: ‘Rejoice in Hope.’ May he now rejoice in the hope of eternal life,” Bishop Matano said.
Bishop Robert J. McManus, S.T.D., bishop of the Diocese of Worcester, Massachusetts, and a Rhode Island native son, said he also joined his prayers with those of the Catholic community of the Ocean State for the repose of the soul of Bishop Gelineau, asking that God may welcome this good and faithful servant into eternal life in heaven.
“His more than 25 years of service to the people of Rhode Island as their bishop were always rooted in his episcopal motto, ‘Rejoice in Hope.’ He was a great champion of the faith and I will always remember him fondly from my years as a priest in Providence,” Bishop McManus said.
Bishop Gelineau received several honorary degrees including: Doctor of Religious Education from Providence College; Doctor of Humane Letters from Salve Regina University; Doctor of Laws from Mt. St. Joseph College; Doctor of Divinity from Our Lady of Providence College Seminary; Doctor of Humane Letters from Roger Williams College; Doctor of Divinity from Brown University; Doctor of Humane Letters from Assumption College; Doctor of Humanities from Bryant College and Doctor of Divinity from Rivier College.
He is predeceased by his brothers, Robert and Norman, and is survived by six nieces and nephews.
Bishop Tobin said that Bishop Gelineau was respected and loved by the people of the diocese.
“He was a dedicated and faithful priest and bishop, a truly good shepherd who loved the Lord and tirelessly cared for his flock. We pray now that he will rest in the perfect peace and joy of Heaven. ‘Well done, good and faithful servant!’”
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Priest Retirement Fund, One Cathedral Square, Providence, RI. 02903 or via srpriestri.com.
Rite of Reception with Solemn Office of the Dead:
Saturday, Nov. 16, at 9 a.m., in the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, 30 Fenner Street, Providence. Visitation in the Cathedral follows until 10:45 a.m.
Mass of Christian Burial:
Saturday, Nov. 16, at 11 a.m. in the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, Providence. Burial will follow later in Vermont.