ST. JACQUES, France – Rev. Alphonse O. LeThiez, 81, Senior Priest of the Diocese of Providence, died on Nov. 17, in St. Jacques, where he was buried.
Born in Pleugriffet, France, son of the late Alphonse J.M. and Eugenie (Bihouee) LeThiez, he attended St. Pierre School in Pleugriffet. In preparation for the priesthood, he studied at the Preparatory Seminary in Ploermel and in the Major Seminary in St. Jacques in France.
After serving in the French Army for two years, he was ordained to the Priesthood on June 29, 1955 in St. Jacques Seminary by Bishop Courniveau, Bishop of Cap-Haitien, Haiti, West Indies. After his ordination, Father LeThiez made postgraduate studies at the Catholic University and Le Sorbonne in Paris, France and in 1957 went to Haiti. He taught at St. Louis College in Jeremie (1957-67); and at St. Martial College in Port-au-Prince (1967-69).
Beginning in 1958, he started to spend summers in Rhode Island, first at Our Lady of Victories in Woonsocket, then at St. John the Baptist in West Warwick.
In 1969, no longer able to return to Haiti due to political unrest, he remained in West Warwick and was appointed assistant pastor of St. John the Baptist Church. In September 1999, he was incardinated into the Diocese of Providence. Father LeThiez remained at St. John the Baptist Parish in West Warwick until his retirement in January 2003 as a Senior Priest.
During his retirement, Father LeThiez spent time in Florida and France. In May, 2011 he returned to his hometown in France. He leaves a brother, Pierre LeThiez in France.
A concelebrated Memorial Mass was offered for the repose of his soul at SS. John and James Church in West Warwick on Nov. 25 with Bishop Robert C. Evans as the main celebrant and Msgr. Jacques Plante, diocesan director of Evangelization and Pastoral Planning, as the homilist.
