SHREWSBURY____Rev. Richard A. Jakubauskas, 78, of Shrewsbury, a retired Priest of the Diocese of Worcester died Wednesday June 9, 2022 in UMASS – MEMORIAL Medical Center, University Campus.
Fr. Richard A. Jakubauskas was born in Kaunas, Lithuania on November 29, 1943 a son of the late Leopold and Eugenia (Mironcikas) Jakubauskas. His family of five had to flee their home when he was six months old because it was becoming a war zone during World War II. The family fled to Germany and was taken in by the U.S. Army. They immigrated to America in 1949. Fr. Richard graduated from Sacred Heart Elementary School and St. Peter’s High School. At St. Peter’s, Father was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame. He went on to graduate from Worcester Junior College and Clark University. He served in the U.S. Army Reserve with 373rd General Hospital. He went to Graduate School at Assumption College and earned a Master’s Degree and Certificate of Advanced Studies in Psychology and Counseling. He worked as a Psychologist in Human Services. He also worked part time at The Catholic Free Press before entering Pope St. John National Seminary in Weston to prepare for the priesthood. He was ordained by Bishop Daniel P. Reilly on June 5, 1999 at St. Paul’s Cathedral. Following ordination he was assigned as Associate Pastor of St. Cecilia’s Parish, Leominster. In June 2001 he was appointed Pastor of St. Casimir’s Church, Worcester. He also worked part time as an on-call Chaplain at University of Mass and Memorial Hospitals. In June 2009, he was assigned to St. John Church Worcester and as Chaplain of The Lithuanian Community. In June 2010 he became Pastor of the North Quabbin Catholic Community which included three Parishes and a Mission. He was also Fire Chaplain of the Athol Fire Department. Then he was assigned to St. Joan of Arc Church, Worcester and part time on-call Chaplain at University of Mass. and Memorial Hospitals. In June 2015, Fr. Richard was appointed Pastor of St. Joseph Church, North Brookfield and St. John the Baptist Church, East Brookfield. Fr. was a Chaplain of the Knights of Columbus. He served on the Priest’s Salary Committee of The Diocese of Worcester and with The Diocesan Expansion Fund. He retired in October 2020 due to health reasons and lived at the Southgate Residence in Shrewsbury. He continued to assist St. Joseph’s and St. John the Baptist Parishes part time after retirement.
Father Richard leaves two brothers, his brother, Henry and wife Dalia and four nieces, Dalia, Laura, Regina and Audrey, and his brother, Raymond and his wife, Teresa and nieces Vilia and Rima and relatives in Lithuania.
Fr. Jakubauskas’ calling hours will be held Thursday, June 16, 2022 from 3:00 to 6:00 PM in Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Sacred Heart– St. Catherine of Sweden Parish, 600 Cambridge St, Worcester. A vigil service will be held at 6:00 P.M. Father’s Concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 A.M. Friday, June 17, 2022 in Sacred Heart of Jesus Church. Most Reverend Robert J. McManus, Bishop of Worcester will be the Principal Celebrant. Burial will follow in Notre Dame Cemetery, Worcester. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Priest Retirement Fund, Diocese of Worcester, 49 Elm St., Worcester, Ma., 01609 or to St. Joseph Church and St. John the Baptist Church, c/o 28 Mt. Pleasant St., North Brookfield, Ma., 01535. DIRSA – MORIN FUNERAL HOME, 298 Grafton Street, Worcester is directing funeral arrangements.