Obituaries

Brother Daniel Caron, FIC

Please pray for the repose of the soul of Brother Daniel Caron, a member of the Brothers of Christian Instruction, who died on April 2, 2026, at the age of 82.

Born in St. Benjamin, Quebec, Canada, on October 25, 1943, Brother Daniel entered the novitiate in Alfred, Maine, on August 22, 1961 and professed his perpetual vows on August 22, 1971.

Brother Daniel taught chemistry and biology in Fall River, Mass., first at Msgr. Prevost School and then at Bishop Connolly High School. He then served as a school principal for 12 years. 

After a year of spiritual renewal in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, in 1992, he returned to teaching and was chosen as the Provincial Superior, leading the entire American Province. He also served as treasurer and as assistant superior.

Father Fredrick H. Morse

Please join in praying for the repose of the soul of Father Fredrick H. Morse, a priest of the Diocese of Portland, who passed away on April 4, 2026.

Father Morse was born in Bangor on September 26, 1952, the fifth of seven children born to Katherine (Murphy) Morse and Nathan Stanley Morse.

He attended St. John's Catholic School, John Bapst Catholic High School, and the University of Maine in Orono. He began a career in sales management, working at WABI-TV and WYOU in Bangor, then at WGME-TV in Portland and WROC-TV in Rochester, New York.

Feeling a call to the priesthood, Father Morse then attended Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary in Weston, Massachusetts, and was ordained to the priesthood on June 24, 1995, at St. John Church in Bangor.

As a priest, Father Fred served in Fort Kent, Daigle, South Portland, Portland, Peaks Island, Brunswick, Bath, Boothbay Harbor, Richmond, Newcastle, Harpswell, Kennebunk, Ogunquit, and Wells. He also served as chaplain at the University of Maine at Fort Kent and at Maine Medical Center. In retirement, he resided in Boothbay Harbor.

Funeral Services

Visiting Hours will be held Tuesday, April 14, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center Street in Bangor

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, April 15, at 11 a.m. at St. John Church, 217 York Street in Bangor. All are welcome to share conversation and refreshments in the parish hall immediately following the service. Graveside services will be private.

Those who wish to remember Father Fred in a special way may make gifts in his memory to Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, 61 Main St., Islesford, ME 04646. 

Father William Francis Modlin

Please join in praying for the repose of the soul of Father William Francis Modlin, a priest of the Diocese of Portland, who passed away on February 11, 2026, at the age of 91.

Father Modlin was born in Aulander, North Carolina, on January 11, 1935, the son of William and Mary (Malina) Modlin. His family moved to New Jersey where he received his early education. 

After high school, he entered the Congregation of the Holy Cross, remaining with the community until 1977. He also served two years with the New Jersey National Guard.

In 1992, he began his priestly formation for the Diocese of Portland. He attended Pope John XXIII Seminary in Weston, Massachusetts, and was ordained a priest on June 1, 1996.

During his years of active ministry, he served in prison ministry, at the Togus VA Medical Center, and as pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Jackman and Holy Family Parish in Greenville. He also served as a parochial vicar at St. Augustine, St. Mary of the Assumption, and St. Andrew in Augusta, St. Joseph in Gardiner, St. Denis in Whitefield, St. Francis Xavier in Winthrop, and St. Leo in Litchfield.

He retired from active ministry in 2011.

Rev. Alfred Jacques

Rev. Alfred Jacques, 93, passed away on Sunday, January 11, 2026, in Farmington. He was born in Caribou on December 23, 1932, the son of Alfred Sr. and Cecile (Ouellette) Jacques.

Father Jacques was educated in Skowhegan and attended St. Francis High School, followed by college studies in Biddeford. After completing his clerical studies at the Grand Seminary in Montreal, Quebec, he was ordained to the priesthood on May 21, 1960, by Bishop Daniel Feeney at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland.

Throughout his priestly ministry, he served as a parochial vicar at Immaculate Heart of Mary in Fairfield; Holy Rosary in Caribou; St. Martin of Tours in Millinocket; St. Hyacinth in Westbrook; and Notre Dame du Perpetual Secours in Waterville. He later served as pastor of St. Louis Parish in Limestone from 1973 to 1977, after which he began a leave of absence from priestly ministry.

During his leave of absence, Father Jacques devoted himself to service in another capacity, building an Intermediate Care Facility and opening three group homes for adults with physical and mental disabilities. He later returned to the Diocese of Portland, serving on the Diocesan Tribunal from 1987 to 1994 and as personnel director for the Chancery from 1992 to 1994.

On July 1, 1994, he was appointed parochial vicar of Ss. Peter and Paul Parish in Lewiston, and in June 1995

,he became pastor of Ss. Athanasius and John Parish in Rumford. In addition, he served as pastor of St. Theresa of the Infant Jesus Parish in Mexico and St. Joseph Mission in Dixfield from 2002 to 2004. Over the years, he also served on the Diocesan Priests Council, Personnel Board, and School Board.

Father Jacques retired from full-time priestly ministry in 2004 but continued to serve part-time wherever needed, especially during the summer months. He made his home in Skowhegan near his sister, Della Kyes, living in one of her apartments, and spent his winters in Florida.

He deeply loved his family and enjoyed time with his nieces, nephews, and friends, both clergy and lay. He especially cherished family reunions and gatherings with fellow priests. His interests included alpine and water skiing, golfing, reading, photography, and travel throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe.

Funeral Services

A prayer service for Father Jacques will be held on Friday, January 16, 2026, at 4 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at 11 a.m. Both services will take place at Notre Dame Church, 273 Water Street, Skowhegan. A reception will be held after the Funeral Mass at Somerset Valley Remembrance Center, 19 Washburn Lane in Skowhegan.

Sister Theresa Couture, SCIM

Please join in praying for the repose of the soul of Sister Theresa B. Couture, a Good Shepherd Sister of Quebec, who died at St. Joseph Convent in Biddeford on November 25, 2025. Sister Theresa was 93 years old.

Sister Theresa was born in Lewiston on November 9, 1932, to Romeo Couture and Blanche Poirier. She attended St. Peter School and St. Dominic High School in Lewiston, and following graduation, she entered the Roman Congregation of St. Dominic in Mortefontaine, France. She studied at L'Alliance Francaise in Paris, France, and then, after her profession, at Regina Mundi in Rome, Italy. She then returned to the United States.

In 1973, Sr. Theresa had a second religious calling and joined the Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Saco, Maine, more commonly known as the Good Shepherd Sisters of Quebec. Her ministries included teaching, campus ministry, school administration, social work, gerontology, correctional education in a Maine prison, and adult education in Biddeford, from which she retired. She then became like a mother and grandmother to immigrant families. 

Visitation will be held on Friday, December 5, 2025, 9 a.m. to 10:45 a.m., at St. Joseph Convent, 409 Pool Road, Biddeford. A funeral Mass will celebrated at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph Convent, 409 Pool Street in Biddeford. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery in Biddeford.