Retired Bishop Gelineau, sixth bishop of Providence, R.I., dies at 96

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (OSV News) -- Retired Bishop Louis E. Gelineau of Providence, who headed the statewide diocese from 1972 until his retirement in 1997, died Nov. 7 at St. Antoine Residence in North Smithfield. He was 96.

A funeral Mass is to be celebrated Nov. 16 at 11 a.m. in the Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul in Providence following the rite of reception with the Office of the Dead at 9 a.m. and visitation until 10:45 a.m. Burial will be at a later date in Vermont, according to a diocesan press release.

"Bishop Gelineau will be remembered as one of the great figures in the history of the Diocese of Providence," retired Providence Bishop Thomas J. Tobin told Rhode Island Catholic, the diocesan news outlet. "Present among us for more than 50 years, his contributions are enormous, and the impact of his ministry widespread and long-lasting."

Bishop Tobin, who headed the diocese from 2005 until his retirement in 2023, said the late bishop "was affirming, positive and upbeat. Without fail he encouraged me in my ministry, especially during difficult and challenging moments."

Louis Edward Gelineau was born May 3, 1928, into a French-Canadian family in Burlington, Vermont. The son of Leon G. and Juliette Baribault Gelineau, he was educated at St. Joseph's Elementary School and then Cathedral High School in Burlington. He earned a licentiate in sacred theology from St. Paul's University in Ottawa, Ontario, and a licentiate in canon law from The Catholic University of America in Washington.

He was ordained a priest for the Burlington Diocese on June 5, 1954, and served the diocese as an assistant pastor, assistant chancellor, diocesan director of the Society of the Propagation of the Faith, a hospital chaplain, chancellor and vicar general.

On Dec. 6, 1971, Pope St. Paul VI appointed him the sixth bishop of Providence. Burlington Bishop Robert Francis Joyce ordained him a bishop in the Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul in Providence Jan. 26, 1972.

Bishop Gelineau emphasized the pastoral dimension of his office and enjoyed traveling throughout the five-county diocese to meet the people of God, leading to him oftentimes being referred to as "the people's bishop."

In August 1974, Bishop Gelineau created the Immaculate Heart of Mary community to better serve the spiritual needs of the growing Hispanic immigrant community in Rhode Island and worked to secure more Spanish-speaking clergy.

In the 1970s, Bishop 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 a bishop, he ordained more than 120 men to the priesthood. And following the call of the Second Vatican Council to restore a permanent diaconate, he established a formation program in 1973 and ordained the first permanent deacons in the Diocese of Providence three years later, first assigning them as assistants to the bishop and chaplains to state institutions and nursing homes, and eventually to parishes as well.

He created the vicariate structure to organize diocesan administration and ministries -- still in use today -- allowing him to spend more time in the parishes, ministries, and among the people. The Catholic youth ministry center established in Cranston, also still in operation, adopted for its name his episcopal motto, "Rejoice in Hope."

In February 1995, Bishop Gelineau launched a successful $40 million, three-year capital campaign called "Vision of Hope" to provide long term financial support for parishes, projects, and ministries.

During his time as the bishop of Providence, he also appeared regularly in his own television show, "Rejoice in Hope," broadcast on local Catholic Cable TV as well as a weekly column in the Providence Visitor (now "Rhode Island Catholic") called, "Ask the Bishop."

Bishop Gelineau received several honorary degrees including an honorary doctorate of religious education from Providence College and an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Salve Regina University.

His retirement was accepted by St. John Paul II June 11, 1997, after more than 25 years as bishop of Providence, the second longest in diocesan history. Only the diocese's second bishop, Bishop Matthew A. Harkins, served longer -- 1887 to 1921.

"Looking back on those more than 25 years, I have much for which to be grateful," Bishop Gelineau said in a statement upon his retirement. "I have found strong support from many, many people, in all walks of life, for the efforts I have made to be a good shepherd."

In retirement, he continued assisting his successor, Bishop Robert E. Mulvee, and served as defender of the bond for the diocesan tribunal. For more than 10 years, he served St. Antoine Residence and Villa in North Smithfield as chaplain.

In 2017, Bishop Gelineau was recognized with a Lumen Gentium award from Bishop Tobin for his dedicated and faithful service to the Diocese of Providence.

He is predeceased by his brothers, Robert and Norman, and is survived by six nieces and nephews.