Brother Roland Ouellette, S.C. ’67
Brother Roland Ouellette, S.C., Pascoag, RI, died December 3, 2023.
He grew up in Maine, joining the Brothers of the Sacred Heart as a pre-novice in Pomfret, CT, in 1960. Shortly after entering, Roland became a novice, and following novitiate studies he professed his first vows in 1962, later making his perpetual profession at the Brothers’ chapel at Mount St. Charles Academy in Woonsocket, RI, in 1968.
He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in history from Saint Michael’s in 1969 and a master’s degree in Formative Spirituality from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA, in 1980.
Brother Roland grew up in an extremely large and very religious Franco-American family. Influenced by the Brothers of the Sacred Heart at Madawaska High School in Maine, he joined the religious community and dedicated his life to the mission and ministry of the Institute.
His teaching career of 22 years began at St. Peter School in Lewiston, ME, and thereafter to several different schools in the New England Province. He mainly taught courses in history and religion at such schools as Sacred Heart School (Andover, MA); Mount St. John (Deep River, CT); Bishop Guertin H.S. (Nashua, NH); and Mount St. Charles Academy (Woonsocket, RI). He also held such key positions as Campus Minister, Religion Department Chair, and, for 10 years, Vocation Director of the Province. Roland would not spend his entire career in schools, however.
Roland was tapped to work with young men in formation as Novice Director in New England for two years. After earning a master’s degree in Formative Spirituality from Duquesne in 1980, he became Novice Master at the Tri-province Novitiate in New Orleans, LA. The Brothers of the New England Province also entrusted Brother Roland with several key leadership positions. They asked him to lead seven different communities over a 15-year period and ultimately to serve on the Provincial Council for six years. In 1991, he was elected Provincial Superior of the New England Province, an office he held for two terms, i.e., through mid-1997.
Roland’s upbeat, outgoing personality and joyful spirit served him well whether he was evangelizing young people in a school setting, forming the next generation of Brothers in a house of formation, or leading the Brothers at the helm of a local community or of the entire Province. He loved to smile, tease, and joke with others, bringing laughter with his playful spirit wherever he went.
He is survived by a brother, four sisters, and extended family.