Bishop Gelineau, 96, dies at St. Antoine

NORTH SMITHFIELD – The Diocese of Providence has announced that retired Providence Bishop Louis Gelineau died on Thursday, Nov. 7 at the age of 96 at Saint Antoine Residence in North Smithfield.

Gelineau served as the sixth bishop of Providence for more than 25 years, retiring in June of 1997 according to the diocese.

Gelineau was born on May 3, 1928 in Burlington, Vt., the son of Leon G. and Juliette Baribault Gelineau. He received his early education at St. Joseph’s Elementary School and Cathedral High School in Burlington. He studied for the priesthood at St. Paul’s University in Ottawa and was ordained June 5, 1954.

He served as assistant pastor for two years at All Saints Parish in Richford and one year at St. Stephen Parish, Winooski. He then entered the Catholic University of America, obtaining a degree in Canon Law in 1959.

Returning to the Diocese of Burlington, Gelineau was named assistant chancellor, diocesan director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith and assistant chaplain at De Goesbriand Memorial Hospital in Burlington. He became chancellor of the diocese in 1961 and was named a papal chamberlain with the title of monsignor by Pope Paul VI. In 1968, he was named vicar general of the Diocese of Burlington and a prelate.

He was named Bishop of Providence in December 1971. He served on numerous boards and committees concerned with church and civic matters and holds many honorary degrees from Rhode Island colleges and universities, according to his obituary.

In the 1970s, Gelineau traveled to Haiti, leading him to create the Providence-Haiti Outreach project, starting with the opening of a two-classroom school serving 50 students—which today serves 350 children annually During his time as bishop, he ordained over 120 to the priesthood, according to the diocese.

Following his retirement, Gelineau served as a chaplain for more than 10 years at St. Antoine Residence.

Funeral and burial arrangements will reportedly be announced at a later time. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Gelineau’s memory to the Priest Retirement Fund, One Cathedral Square, Providence, RI 02903 or via srpriestri.com.