Father Rudolph Leveille

Please pray for the repose of the soul of Reverend Rudolph “Rudy” J. Leveille, 87, who died Sunday, March 10, at Dirigo Pines in Orono where he had been living.

Rudy was born to Rudolph J. and Isabel R. Leveille on September 23, 1931, in Old Town.  His formal education included St. Joseph’s School, Old Town; John Bapst High School, Bangor (Class of 1949); and College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, MA (1949-1951).  Rudy then studied philosophy at the Séminaire de Philosophie, Montreal, and theology at Le Grand Séminaire de St. Sulpice, Montreal.  He was ordained to the priesthood by the Most Reverend Daniel J. Feeney, Eighth Bishop of Portland, on June 15, 1957, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Portland.

During his years of full-time, active ministry, Fr. Leveille served in the following assignments:

Parochial Vicar/Assistant:

  • St. Joseph Parish, Portland (Summer 1957)
  • St. Patrick Parish, Portland (appointed 1957)
  • St. Margaret Parish, Old Orchard Beach (appointed 1967)
  • St. Mary Parish, Bangor (appointed 1969)

Temporary Administrator:

  • St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Bucksport (appointed Spring & Summer 1972)

Pastor:

  • Sacred Heart Parish, Hallowell (appointed 1972); added St. Denis Parish, North Whitefield (appointed 1975) - Administrator
  • St. Mary of the Assumption Parish, Orono (appointed 1981)
  • St. Teresa Parish, Brewer (appointed 1987)

Fr. Leveille retired from full-time ministry on June 30, 1997; however, he continued to be active in serving the faithful in the greater Bangor-Brewer, Orono-Old Town areas.

Fr. Leveille also served the diocese, its bishops and brother priests in the following capacities:

  • Sisters of Mercy, Motherhouse, Portland – Confessor (Summer 1964)
  • Sisters of the Good Shepherd, Convent, Biddeford – Confessor (1967)
  • Maine Diocesan Council of Catholic Women – Moderator of the Augusta District (appointed 1972)
  • Diocesan Priests’ Senate, for the Southern Kennebec Deanery (elected in 1978, re-elected 1980)
  • Diocesan Priests’ Senate – President (elected 1979)
  • Diocesan Consultors – Ex-Officio Member (concurrent with election as President of the Diocesan Priests’ Senate in 1979)
  • Knights of Columbus
    • State Council - State Friar (1980-1983)
    • Fr. Druillette Council #2537, Old Town - Chaplain (appointed 2005)
  • Daughters of Isabella
    • St. Mary’s Circle #425, Orono – Chaplain (appointed 1981)
    • Ave Maria Circle #422, Bangor – Chaplain (appointed 1987)

In his letter to Fr. Leveille on the occasion of his retirement, Bishop Joseph Gerry, OSB, wrote: “Throughout your years of ministry, you have been known as a man with great attention to detail and a gift for administration.  I have known you as a gracious host and a gentleman … ‘a comfort to those who are lonely’ and [someone] who ‘helps us get through the pain.’ Only God can know how much those qualities have meant in the lives of the countless men and women to whom you have ministered these forty years.”