Rev. Joseph A. Besse, 88, Pastor Emeritus of St. Pius X Church, Westerly, died on Saturday, February 13, 2010.

Born in Providence, a son of the late William L. and Margaret T. (McGovern) Besse, he attended Tyler School and LaSalle Academy in Providence.  He completed studies for the priesthood at St. Charles College in Catonsville, Maryland, and at St. Mary Seminary in Baltimore, Maryland, and Our Lady of Providence Seminary, Warwick Neck.  He was ordained a priest on December 22, 1945 in the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul, Providence, by Bishop Francis P. Keough.

After his ordination, Fr. Besse was named Professor at Our Lady of Providence Seminary, Warwick Neck.  In 1949-50 he made postgraduate work at the Catholic University of Washington, DC.  In October 1950 he returned to the seminary staff at Warwick Neck and worked as Professor, Dean, and Registrar until 1968 when he was appointed pastor of the Assumption Church in Providence.  In February 1971 he was transferred as pastor to St. Philip Church in Greenville.  In September 1978 he became chaplain at St. Joseph Hospital in Providence.  In June 1983 he was appointed pastor of St. Pius X Church in Westerly and served there until January 1992 when he retired as pastor emeritus.

In addition to his parochial duties, Fr. Besse was also Pro-Synodal Examiner and Pro-Synodal Judge, director of Sacred Liturgy, chaplain of Fr. Wallace Assembly Knights of Columbus, diocesan consultor, and a member of the Priests’ Personnel Board. 

After his retirement from parish duties, Fr. Besse took up residence in Warwick but continued to help out in various parishes in the diocese, especially St. Gregory the Great in Warwick.  He also did volunteer work in the archives of the Diocese of Providence and the Providence Visitor.

Fr. Besse was the brother of the late Mrs. Mary Turbridy and John Besse.  He is survived by a niece and a nephew, Mary E. Coleman of Glocester, RI and John T. Turbridy of Glendale, AZ.

Callings hours will be held at St. Gregory the Great Church in Warwick on Thursday, February 18, from 4:00 – 8:00 pm. 

A Concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial will be offered for the repose of his soul at St. Gregory the Great Church, Warwick, on Friday, February 19, at 10:00 AM with Bishop Thomas J. Tobin as the main celebrant and Bishop Francis X. Roque as concelebrant.  Msgr. John C. Halloran will be the homilist.  Burial will be in St. Francis Cemetery, Pawtucket.