2025 -- H 5004

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

EXPRESSING DEEPEST CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF THE MOST REVEREND

LOUIS E. GELINEAU, D.D., J.C.L., S.T.L., BISHOP EMERITUS OF PROVIDENCE

     Introduced By: Representatives Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Corvese, Shallcross Smith,
Fogarty, Hull, Finkelman, Diaz, Bennett, and Fellela

     Date Introduced: January 09, 2025

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, It is with profound sadness that this House has learned of the passing of the

Most Reverend Louis E. Gelineau, Bishop Emeritus of Providence on November 7, 2024. Bishop

Gelineau was the sixth Bishop of Providence and the second longest-serving bishop in diocesan

history; and

     WHEREAS, Louis Edward Gelineau was born on May 3, 1928 in Burlington, Vermont, a

son of the late Leon and Juliette Gelineau. He received his early education at St. Joseph’s

Elementary and Cathedral High School in Burlington. Louis Gelineau went on to earn a

Licentiate in Sacred Theology and a Bachelor of Philosophy degree from St. Paul’s University in

Ottawa, Canada and later a Licentiate in Canon Law from the Catholic University of America in

1959; and

     WHEREAS, Louis Gelineau was ordained to the Priesthood in the Diocese of Burlington

by Bishop Edward Ryan on June 5, 1954 and served as an associate pastor at All Saints Parish

and St. Stephen’s Parish. Later, he served the Burlington diocese as Assistant Chancellor,

Director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, and Secretary and Master of Ceremonies

to Bishop Robert Joyce. In 1961, he became Chancellor and in 1968 he became Vicar General

and was elevated by the Vatican to Prelate of His Holiness; and

     WHEREAS, On December 6, 1971, Pope Paul VI appointed Monsignor Gelineau the 6th

Bishop of Providence and on January 26, 1972, he received his episcopal consecration from

Bishop Joyce at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Providence; and

     WHEREAS, In 1973, acting upon the recommendation of the Second Vatican Council to

restore the permanent diaconate, Bishop Gelineau established a formation program to accomplish

that, and three years later he ordained the first permanent deacons in the diocese. Also in the

1970s, he traveled to Haiti leading to the creation of the Providence-Haiti Outreach project and

the creation of a two-room school serving 50 children which has grown to serving 350 children

annually; and

     WHEREAS, Bishop Gelineau placed a great emphasis on the pastoral aspect of his

office, believing he should spend as much time as possible engaging with the faith community.

Bishop Gelineau created the vicariate administration structure with the diocese, still in use today,

freeing him to spend more time travelling around the diocese to meet the people of his flock. In

1995, he launched a highly successful, three-year, $40 million-dollar capital campaign to provide

financial support for parishes, ministries and projects throughout the diocese. As part of his

constant effort to reach out to the faithful, Bishop Gelineau hosted a television show taking its

name from his episcopal motto “Rejoice in Hope” and had a weekly column “Ask the Bishop” in

the Providence Visitor (now The Rhode Island Catholic). Because of his strong belief in outreach

to the faithful, he was dubbed “The People’s Bishop”; and

     WHEREAS, On June 11, 1997, after more than 25 years of faithful service to the Diocese

of Providence, Pope John Paul II accepted Bishop Gelineau’s retirement. Though retired, Bishop

Emeritus Gelineau continued to serve the Catholic community of Rhode Island in various ways.

In 2017, Bishop Thomas Tobin presented Bishop Gelineau with the Lumen Gentium award in

recognition of his great contributions in the areas of administration and stewardship in the

diocese; and

     WHEREAS, It is certain that Bishop Louis Gelineau left an indelible mark upon the

Diocese of Providence and that “The People’s Bishop” will long be remembered by the people of

Rhode Island as a devoted steward of the diocese entrusted to him, and a faithful shepherd of his

flock; now therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

expresses its deepest condolences on the passing of the Most Reverend Louis E. Gelineau, Bishop

Emeritus of Providence; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Diocese of Providence.

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