Rev. Arthur A. Ouillette

12 years ago

Ouillette, Rev. Arthur A., 88, of Worcester, Mass., on August 16, 2012. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held August 22 at 11 a.m. at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Worcester.


AR Fr. Art Ouillette 2AR Fr. Art OuilletteWORCESTER, MASS. – Rev. Arthur A. Ouillette, 88, a retired Worcester Diocesan priest devoted to church music, died Thursday, August 16, 2012 at St. Vincent Hospital, Worcester.

He was born in Caribou, Maine, the son of Arthur and Leone (DesJardins) Ouillette.

Father Ouillette was a 1940 graduate of Caribou High School. After graduating in 1942 from Becker College in Worcester, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He served in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater including The Philippines during World War II. After the war, he entered the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, graduating in 1950.

Father Ouillette studied for the priesthood at the Grand Seminary in Montreal and St. John’s Seminary in Brighton, Mass. He was ordained a priest in the Diocese of Worcester in 1955 at the Cathedral of St. Paul by then Bishop John J. Wright.

After his ordination, he was assigned to St. Paul’s Cathedral as an assistant pastor and director of its Schola and Sanctuary Choir. In 1962, he was also named Diocesan Director of Sacred Music by Bishop Bernard J. Flanagan. He oversaw the installation of two new pipe organs at the cathedral and more recently assisted with the refurbishment of the same instruments.

Father Ouillette was transferred to Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Worcester, in 1969. In 1973, he was named pastor of St. Pius X Church in Leicester, Mass., and also served as Cardinal Newman Chaplain for Leicester Junior College.

In 1982, he became pastor of St. Mary’s Church in Southbridge, Mass. He went on a three month sabbatical in 1985 to study at the North American College in Rome. In 1991, he was appointed pastor of St. Mary’s Church in Jefferson, Mass., from which he retired in 1997. In retirement, he continued his priestly ministry, celebrating Mass at several churches.

He leaves two brothers, Richard and Reginald Ouillette, both of Caribou, five sisters, Katherine Karr of Lancaster, Calif., Mona MacBain of Clinton, Conn., Ruth Vermette of Skowhegan, Greta Cianchette of Detroit, Maine, and Sheila Jacobson of Gray, Maine, and many nephews, nieces, grandnephews and grandnieces.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be held Wednesday, August 22 at 11 a.m. at St. Paul’s Cathedral, 15 Chatham St., Worcester. The Most Rev. Robert J. McManus, Bishop of Worcester, will be the principal celebrant. Burial will be at a later date in Holy Rosary Cemetery, Caribou.

Calling hours were Tuesday, August 21 from 5 to 7 p.m. at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Worcester with a vigil service followed at 7 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to the Classical Music Studies Program at the College of the Holy Cross, 1 College St., Worcester, MA 01610.