Brother Roland Ouellette, S.C.

Dec 15, 2023

This photo is the property of Br. Ralph Lebel and Bishop Guertin High School and may NOT be used without Br. Ralph's written approval.

March 2, 1942 – December 3, 2023

BROTHER ROLAND OUELLETTE, S.C., 81, died at his community residence in Pascoag, Rhode Island, on Sunday evening, December 3, 2023. Roland was the son of the late Joseph Ouellette of St. Agatha, ME, and Marie Anne Gagnon, of Van Buren, ME. He was a native of St. Agatha, ME, and grew up there, joining the Brothers of the Sacred Heart as a pre-novice in Pomfret, CT, on June 27, 1960. Shortly after entering, Roland became a novice on August 24, 1960. Following novitiate studies, Brother Roland professed his first vows on August 24, 1962, in Harrisville, RI, and later made his perpetual profession at the Brothers’ chapel at Mount St. Charles Academy in Woonsocket, RI, on June 23, 1968. This promising young Brother went on to earn a Bachelor’s degree in History from St. Michael’s College in Winooski, VT, in 1969 and a Master’s degree in Formative Spirituality from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA, in 1980.

Brother Roland grew up in an extremely large and very religious Franco-American family. Influenced by the Brothers of the Sacred Heart at Madawaska HS in Maine, he joined religious community and dedicated his life to the mission and ministry of the Institute. His teaching career of 22 years began at St. Peter School in Lewiston, ME, and thereafter to several different schools in the New England Province. He mainly taught courses in history and religion at such schools as Sacred Heart School (Andover, MA); Mount St. John (Deep River, CT); Bishop Guertin H.S. (Nashua, NH); and Mount St. Charles Academy (Woonsocket, RI). He also held such key positions as Campus Minister, Religion Department Chair, and, for ten years, Vocation Director of the Province. Roland would not spend his entire career in schools, however.

Roland was tapped to work with young men in formation as Novice Director in New England for two years. After earning a master’s degree in Formative Spirituality from Duquesne in 1980, he became Novice Master at the Tri-province Novitiate in New Orleans, LA.

The Brothers of the New England Province also entrusted Brother Roland with several key leadership positions. They asked him to lead seven different communities over a 15-year period and ultimately to serve on the Provincial Council for six years. In 1991, he was honored to be elected Provincial Superior of the New England Province, an office he held for two terms, i.e., through mid-1997.

Roland’s upbeat, outgoing personality and joyful spirit served him well whether he was evangelizing young people in a school setting, forming the next generation of Brothers in a house of formation, or leading the Brothers at the helm of a local community or of the entire Province. He loved to smile, tease, and joke with others, bringing laughter wherever he went. His playful spirit will certainly be missed by all who were close to him.

Brother Roland was preceded in death by his parents, several of his brothers: Normand, Lucien, Maurice, Arthur, Wellie, Donat, Claude and Oniel Ouellette, as well as his brother-in-law,

Clifford Martin. Several of his sisters are also deceased, including Lucille Chase-Martin, Evelyn Michaud, Rachel Ouellette, Yvette Beaulieu, Bernadette Bell, Yvette Plourd, Irene Ouellette, Juliette Lagassey, and sister-in-law, Stella Ouellette.

He is survived by his brother Jean Paul (Cleo) Ouellette (Madawaska, ME); his brother-in-law, Roland Michaud (Nashua, NH); several sisters, including: Normande Collin (New Britain, CT), Cecile Morin (St. David, ME), Claudette (Leo James) Sirois (Higganum, CT); his sisters-in-law: Clara Ouellette (Ashland, ME) and Janet Ouellette (New Britain CT); his God-child, Brenda Sirois Quill, and many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.

Relatives, friends, colleagues and former students are invited to attend a visitation on Saturday, December 16, 2023, from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM at the Brothers’ Chapel at the Pascoag Residence (685 Steere Farm Road, Pascoag, RI 02859). A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated immediately following at 10:30 AM. Interment will be at the Brothers’ cemetery on the grounds of the Pascoag Brothers’ residence immediately following Mass.

In lieu of flowers, donations in honor of Brother Roland Ouellette can be made to the Brothers of the Sacred Heart Foundation (4600 Elysian Fields Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70122).