Father Sylvio Levesque
Please pray for the repose of the soul of Father Sylvio J. Levesque, a priest of the Diocese of Portland, who passed away on Wednesday, October 4, 2023, at the age of 93.
Father Sylvio was born in Augusta on July 13, 1930, the son of Joseph F. Levesque and Mathilda (Lagace) Levesque. He attended the former St. Augustine Grammar School and went to St. Charles Seminary in Sherbrooke, Quebec, for high school. He then received a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and licentiate in sacred theology from St. Paul Major Seminary of the University of Ottawa, Ontario.
He was ordained to the priesthood on June 4, 1955, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland, by the Most Rev. Daniel J Feeney, eighth Bishop of Portland.
In his nearly 50 years of active ministry, Father Levesque served at many parishes including St. Louis in Limestone, St. Joseph in Biddeford, St. Joseph in Sinclair, Holy Family in Daigle, St. Athanasius & St. John in Rumford, St. Francis de Sales in Waterville, and St. Francis Xavier Parish in Winthrop.
Father Levesque retired from full-time active ministry in 2001, but continued to assist parishes until he was unable to do so due to his health.
Fr. Levesque also served as chaplain to the Knights of Columbus and the Order of Catholic Women. He was also a member of the Diocesan Planning Board and the Priests’ Personnel Board.
Father Levesque was known for his sense of humor. He was an avid golfer, a master cribbage player, and cherished spending holidays with his family. He is survived by his sister: Annette Dostie.
May Fr. Sylvio’s soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Funeral arrangements
Visitation:
Tuesday, October 10
10:00 am to 10:45 am
St. Augustine Church, Augusta
(The reception of the body will take place privately beforehand)
Funeral:
Tuesday, October 10
11:00 am
St. Augustine Church, Augusta
The Most Rev. Robert P. Deeley, celebrant
Rev. Robert Lariviere, homilist
Committal:
Tuesday, October 10
St. Augustine Cemetery, Augusta
Immediately following the funeral Mass
The Most Rev. Robert P. Deeley, celebrant
Sister Aline Roy, CSJ
Please pray for the repose of the soul of Sr. Aline Roy, a member of the Sisters of St Joseph of Lyon, who died Thursday, September 14. She was 89 years old and had been in religious life for 68 years.
Sister Aline was born and raised in Canada and was very proud of her Canadian heritage. She entered the convent upon graduating from Sacred Heart Academy in Jackman which is where she got to know the Sisters of St Joseph of Lyon.
She taught or did pastoral ministry at many parishes in Maine including St. Rose of Lima Parish in Jay, Sacred Heart Parish in Auburn, Holy Family Parish in Lewiston, St. Mary of Lourdes Parish in Lincoln, St. Anne in Danforth, St. Margaret in OOB, St. Francis of Assisi in Belfast, St. John the Baptist in Winslow, St. Agnes in Pittsfield, St. James in Baileyville, and St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish in Calais.
She was also a missionary in Benin, Africa, for nine years and in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, for three years and served in Laredo, Texas.
Sister Aline is remembered for the lively and creative “Living Stations of the Cross, which she organized in Lincoln, Baileyville, and Calais. She was a passionate and outspoken person who gave of herself fully in anything she did.
Please remember in your prayers her religious and natural families as well as her many friends and acquaintances.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, September 20, at 10:00 a.m. at Notre Dame du Perpetual Secours Church in Waterville, preceded by an hour when her body will be waked.
May her soul and the soul of all the faithful departed rest in peace. Amen.
Please join in praying for the repose of the soul of Sr. Virginia Connors, a member of the Servants of the Blessed Sacrament, who died on August 28, 2023, at the age of 94.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1928, she entered the Blessed Sacrament Convent in Waterville in 1954. Prior to that, she earned a bachelor's degree and worked as a blood bank laboratory technician. As a religious, she became a licensed practical nurse and worked at Mt. St. Joseph in Waterville for a number of years. She also served the church in Pueblo, Colorado; Kenner, Louisiana; and Cleveland, Ohio. Within her community, she served as local and provincial treasurer for many years.
Sister Virginia was beloved by her family and her community and was not averse to offering medical advice to those she encountered. A prayerful woman, she loved leading the weekly sharing on the word of God and did so until her health obliged her to step back. Her last couple months were spent back at Mt St Joseph, the place she had worked and loved.
Please remember in your prayers her religious community and her family members, as well as many friends that she leaves behind.
Mass of Christian Burial: Thursday, August 31, at 11:00 a.m. at the Blessed Sacrament Chapel in Waterville.
May her soul and the soul of all the faithful departed rest in peace. Amen.
Father Eddy Morin
Please pray for the repose of the soul of Father Eddy Morin, a priest of the Diocese of Portland, who died on August 18, 2023, at the age of 62.
Father Morin was born July 8, 1961, in Southington, Conn., to Leo and Ida Morin. He then moved to Maine where he attended Madawaska High School.
He received a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Steubenville in Ohio, after which he helped out in the family business. He then attended St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore, MD, receiving a baccalaureate in sacred theology and a Master of Divinity degree.
He was ordained a priest by Bishop Joseph Gerry, OSB, on May 1, 1999, at St. Agatha Church in Saint Agatha.
Pastoral assignments included Holy Family Parish in Greenville, St. Agnes Parish in Island Falls, and St. Mary of the Visitation Parish in Houlton. Health issues forced him to retire from full-time, active ministry in 2009, but he continued to serve in parishes when he could.
Wake: Wednesday, August 23, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Michaud Funeral Home in Saint Agatha
Funeral: Thursday, August 24, 10 a.m., at St. Agatha Church in Saint Agatha
Sister Mary Jude Murray, RSM
Your prayers are requested for the repose of the soul of Sr. Mary Jude Murray, RSM, a member of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, who died July 14 at the age of 93.
Sister Mary Jude (Arlene Theresa) Murray was born in Bangor in 1930, the daughter of Peter and Clair Boyle Murray. She attended St. John's School in Bangor and then John Bapst High School, entering the Sisters of Mercy upon graduation.
Sister Mary Jude began her ministry as a middle school teacher in Portland, Biddeford, and Farmington.
In 1959, she studied accounting and then served at Mercy Hospital in Portland, holding positions such as chief accountant, assistant comptroller, administration director, and, later, vice-president and chief fiscal officer. During these years, she received much recognition for her outstanding services in the field of hospital accounting and finance.
After 18 years of service at Mercy Hospital, Sister Mary Jude moved to St. Joseph College of Maine in Standish where she became the department chair and an associate professor in the Department of Business, once again receiving recognition for her competence and excellent leadership.
Sister Jude shared her knowledge and competence by serving on a number of community committees, state associations, and the Diocesan Finance Council.
Sister Jude was a caring member of every committee and team on which she worked. She taught her students that accounting was a service to help others and to provide the resources needed to accomplish the goals of their employers with compassion. She was a quiet, gentle, and prayerful person who exercised leadership through competence.
Visiting Hours: Thursday, July 20, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Conroy-Tully Walker Chapel, 1024 Broadway in South Portland
Funeral: Friday, July 21, at 11 a.m. at St. Pius X Church, 492 Ocean Avenue in Portland. Bishop Robert Deeley will be the principal celebrant.
