BRIGHTON - Reverend Roland O. Guilmain, A.A., 98, died Monday, December 2, 2024 in Notre Dame Long Term Care in Worcester after a period of declining health.
He was born on November 3, 1926 in Nashua, NH, the son of Edward J. and Claire (Caron) Guilmain and attended the Academy of the Sacred Heart there. He graduated from Assumption Preparatory School in 1945 and from Assumption College (now University) in 1950 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. He later earned a Licentiate in Sacred Theology from Laval University in Quebec in 1954 and was awarded an honorary doctorate in theology from Assumption College in 1996.
He entered the Assumptionist novitiate in 1947 in Canada and pronounced his final vows on September 9, 1951 and was ordained to the priesthood on December 19, 1953 in Quebec.
Father Roland was first assigned to Mexico City to teach English from 1954 to 1955 and then sent to Canada to open a minor seminary where he taught several courses and served as administrator. Following that assignment, he taught Old Testament courses at Assumption College and was the Dean of Men from 1960 to 1965.
He was sent to Emperatriz de America Church in Mexico in 1965. From 1969 to 1977, he served as superior and director of the John XXIII Center in Cassadaga, NY, a place of significant growth in his spiritual life. His next assignment was at the Provincial House in New York City where he was the superior and director of Development for the North American Province for 5 years.
After a short time in Milton, MA he was assigned as pastor of St. Anne & St. Patrick in Fiskdale for 2 years before returning to Mexico as pastor of Emperatriz de America Parish where he remodeled the church, initiated a system of evangelization and established a stewardship program. From 1990 to 1996, he was the Provincial of the North American Province while living in Brighton. He then became the superior of the community at Old English Road in Worcester for 9 years until 2006. During that time, he was the chaplain at the college and vice-president of religious affairs. Father Roland also helped in parish ministry at Saint Peter’s Church in Worcester. He was the Master of Novices for a year and for several years was the regional and local treasurer.
At Assumption College, he served on the Board of Trustees from 1978 to 1996, with several as Chairman of the Board, and then from 2000 to the present.
Father Roland tried to be available and accepted many different duties, something that kept him young at heart. He had a devotion to God the Father, his source of joy and peace.
Besides his fellow Assumptionists, he leaves nephews and nieces, grand-nephews and grand-nieces. His brothers Daniel and Girard Guilmain and his sister Vivian Maynard predeceased him.
His funeral will be held on Tuesday, December 10, at 10:30 AM in Saint Anne – Saint Patrick Church, 16 Church Street, Fiskdale, with the Reverend Dennis Gallagher, A.A., former provincial of the North American Province, as the main celebrant. Burial will be in Saint Anne’s Cemetery, Sturbridge. Visitation will take place from 9:30 to 10:30 AM in church before Mass. Donations in his name may be made to the Assumptionist Vocation Fund, 330 Market Street, Brighton, MA 02135. Arrangements are under the direction of Sitkowski, Malboeuf & Hickey Funeral Home, 340 School Street, Webster.