Sixth Bishop of Providence, Bishop Louis E. Gelineau, Passes

PROVIDENCE— The Diocese of Providence announces with sadness that Most Reverend Louis E. Gelineau, D.D., J.C.L, S.T.L., Bishop Emeritus of Providence, died peacefully on November 7, 2024, at the age of 96 at Saint Antoine Residence in North Smithfield.

Bishop Gelineau served as the sixth Bishop of Providence for more than 25 years, from January 26, 1972, until his retirement June 11, 1997. 

Bishop Gelineau was born on May 3, 1928, in Burlington, Vermont, the son of Leon G. and Juliette Baribault Gelineau. He was educated at St. Joseph’s Elementary School and then Cathedral High School, Burlington and earned a Licentiate in Sacred Theology from St. Paul’s University in Ottawa, Canada, and a Licentiate in Canon Law from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 5, 1954, and served the Diocese of Burlington as an Assistant Pastor, Assistant Chancellor, Diocesan Director of the Society of the Propagation of the Faith, hospital chaplain, Chancellor, and Vicar General. 

On December 6, 1971, Pope Saint Paul VI appointed him Bishop of Providence. Burlington Bishop Robert Francis Joyce consecrated him a bishop in the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Providence on January 26, 1972. As Bishop of Providence, Bishop Gelineau emphasized the pastoral dimension of his office and enjoyed travelling throughout the diocese to meet the People of God, leading to him oftentimes being referred to as "the people’s bishop." 

In August 1974, Bishop Gelineau created the Immaculate Heart of Mary community to better serve the spiritual needs of the growing Hispanic immigrant community in Rhode Island and worked to secure more Spanish-speaking clergy.

In the 1970s, Bishop Gelineau traveled to Haiti, leading him to create the Providence-Haiti Outreach project, starting with the opening of a two-classroom school serving 50 students—which today serves 350 children annually.

During his time as a bishop, he ordained more than 120 men to the priesthood. And following the call of the Second Vatican Council to restore a permanent diaconate, he established a formation program in 1973 and ordained the first permanent deacons in the Diocese of Providence three years later, first assigning them as assistants to the bishop and chaplains to state institutions and nursing homes, and eventually to parishes as well.

He created the vicariate structure to organize diocesan administration and ministries—still in use today—allowing him to spend more time in the parishes, ministries, and among the people. The Catholic youth ministry center established in Cranston, also still in operation, adopted for its name his episcopal motto, “Rejoice in Hope.” 

In February 1995, Bishop Gelineau launched a successful $40 Million, three-year capital campaign called “Vision of Hope” to provide long term financial support for parishes, projects, and ministries.

During his time as the Bishop of Providence, he also appeared regularly in his own television show, "Rejoice in Hope," broadcast on local Catholic Cable TV as well as a weekly column in the Providence Visitor (now “Rhode Island Catholic”) called, “Ask the Bishop.”

Bishop Gelineau received several honorary degrees including: Doctor of Religious Education from Providence College; Doctor of Humane Letters from Salve Regina University; Doctor of Laws from Mt. St. Joseph College; Doctor of Divinity from Our Lady of Providence College Seminary; Doctor of Humane Letters from Roger Williams College; Doctor of Divinity from Brown University; Doctor of Humane Letters from Assumption College; Doctor of Humanities from Bryant College and Doctor of Divinity from Rivier College.

After more than 25 years as Bishop of Providence (the second longest in diocesan history), his retirement was accepted by the Holy Father on June 11, 1997. In retirement, he continued assisting his successor as Bishop Emeritus and served as Defender of the Bond for the diocesan tribunal. For more than 10 years, he served Saint Antoine Residence and Villa in North Smithfield, R.I. as chaplain. In 2017, Bishop Gelineau was recognized with a Lumen Gentium award from Bishop Thomas J. Tobin for his dedicated and faithful service to the Diocese of Providence.

He is predeceased by his brothers, Robert and Norman, and is survived by six nieces and nephews. 

Funeral and burial arrangements will be announced at a later time. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Priest Retirement Fund, One Cathedral Square, Providence, RI 02903 or via srpriestri.com.