WARWICK - Father Peter M. Cavanaugh, 66, pastor emeritus of St. Clare Church, Misquamicut, died Feb. 9. Born in Providence, the son of Louise (Billington) Cavanaugh and the late Peter Cavanaugh, he attended Blessed Sacrament School and La Salle Academy in Providence and Our Lady of Providence Seminary in Warwick. He also studied at the American College in Louvain, Belgium and was ordained a priest there on June 25, 1966 by Bishop Victor J. Reed. After a summer assignment at Blessed Sacrament Church, Providence, Father Cavanaugh was appointed assistant pastor at St. Michael Church, Georgiaville, in September 1966. In September 1967, he was assigned as a teacher at La Salle Academy while serving as part-time assistant pastor at the parish. In 1971, he was transferred to St. Thomas Church, Providence, as part-time assistant pastor, while remaining a teacher at La Salle where, in 1976, he was also appointed chaplain. In 1980, Father Cavanaugh was appointed director of the Priests' Personnel Office with residence at St. Thomas Church, Providence. In 1982, he became a team member of the House of Formation at Our Lady of Providence Seminary, Warwick, while continuing as director of Priests' Personnel. In August 1986, Father Cavanaugh was appointed pastor of St. Peter Church, Warwick. In February 1998, he was appointed pastor of St. Clare Church, where he remained until his retirement as pastor emeritus in March 2005. After his retirement, he resided in Warwick.Besides his mother, Father Cavanaugh leaves two sisters, Maureen Cavanaugh and Joan Richard, both of Warwick. He also leaves two nephews.A concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at Blessed Sacrament Church on Feb. 14, with Bishop Thomas J. Tobin as the main celebrant and Bishops Louis E. Gelineau and Ernest B. Boland, Archbishop George H. Pearce and other priests concelebrating. Father John C. Halloran was the homilist. Burial was in St. Francis Cemetery, Pawtucket.
