Monsignor Robert Lavoie

Please pray for the repose of the soul of Reverend Monsignor Robert G. Lavoie who died peacefully, surrounded by his family, on Friday, May 12, at St. Joseph Rehabilitation and Residence in Portland.

Monsignor Lavoie was born in Lewiston on January 20, 1928, the son of Louis and Eva (Ouellette) Lavoie.  He had one brother who predeceased him.

Monsignor was a member of the first graduating class of St. Dominic Regional High School (now St. Dominic Academy) in Lewiston.  He attended Assumption College in Worcester, MA, and studied philosophy and theology at the Grand Seminary in Montreal, Canada.

He was ordained on May 30, 1953, by the late Bishop Daniel J. Feeney at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland. He served two years as assistant at St. Denis Parish in Fort Fairfield and 12 years at St. John the Baptist in Winslow.  From there, he was appointed Catholic chaplain at the University of Maine in Orono, where he supervised the construction of the Newman Center and residence for the chaplain.

On January 30, 1972, Father Lavoie was named Prelate of Honor to his Holiness and given the title of monsignor.  It was a recognition he received with great humility.

Also in 1972, he was chosen as director of the Office of Pastoral Planning for the diocese. For two years, he traveled the state to help parishes implement a planning process to help direct their ministries.

In 1974, in addition to those duties, he was named pastor of the newly formed parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Windham, where he oversaw the building of the church, hall, and rectory.

In 1986, he was appointed pastor of St. Hyacinth Parish in Westbrook, and in 1997, he became pastor of St. Gregory Parish in Gray.

Having reached the venerable age of 79 in 2007, monsignor retired from full-time priestly ministry and took up residence in the priest section at Mt. St. Joseph in Waterville. He continued to provide priestly ministry to parishes across the diocese. 

Monsignor Lavoie is survived by nephew Mark and his wife, Debra Lavoie; nephew David Lavoie and his family; niece Susan and her husband, Brent Wooten, and family; as well as many cousins and friends.

May Monsignor Lavoie's soul and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace.  Amen