SMITHFIELD — Rev. Roger A. Houle, 71, Pastor Emeritus of St. Joseph Parish, North Scituate, died Monday, February 27, 2023. Born in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, son of the late Leo and Liliane (Riendeau) Houle, he attended St. Ann School, Mount St. Francis School, and Mount St. Charles Academy, all in Woonsocket. In preparation for the priesthood, Father studied at Our Lady of Providence Seminary, Warwick, and St. Meinrad School of Theology, St. Meinrad, Indiana, and was ordained to the priesthood on November 12, 1977, at St. Agatha Parish, Woonsocket, by Most Reverend Kenneth A. Angell, Auxiliary Bishop of Providence.
Father Houle served as assistant pastor at St. Augustin Parish, Newport (1977 - 79); St. Ann Parish, Cranston (1979 - 85); and St. Ann Parish, Woonsocket (1985 - 89). In 1989, he was appointed pastor of St. Ann Parish, Woonsocket, and served there until 2001. Father completed sabbatical studies at the North American College in Rome in 1996.
In 2001, Father Houle was appointed pastor of St. Joseph Parish, North Scituate, and served there until his retirement as Pastor Emeritus in 2019.
In addition to his parish duties, Father Houle served as: a member of the diocesan Priests’ Personnel Board (1986 - 92, 1997 - 99); administrator pro tem at Our Lady of Victories Parish, Woonsocket (1995 - 2001); administrator at St. Aloysius Parish, Woonsocket (1998 - 2001); diocesan Dean/Vicar Forane of Deanery X (2011 - 13); interim Director at St. John Vianney Residence, Providence (2017); and chaplain at St. Antoine Residence, North Smithfield (2018 - 19).
Father Houle also served as the first diocesan Senior Priest Advisor (2008 - 17), and provided outreach assistance to the retired priests of the Diocese of Providence.
Father Houle is survived by his siblings, Rachel L. Nulman of Lincoln, Estelle F. Borucki of Norton, Mass., Andre L. Houle of Douglas, Mass., and Jeannette C. Farley of North Smithfield. He is also survived by one nephew and six nieces.
A Concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial for the repose of Father’s soul was offered on Friday, March 3, at St. Joseph Church, North Scituate, with burial in Resurrection Cemetery, Cumberland. In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Joseph Church, PO Box 236, North Scituate, RI 02857 or Bishop Thomas J. Tobin’s Keep the Heat on Program, c/o 1 Cathedral Square, Providence, RI 02903, will be appreciated.
