Paul M. Ouellette

Rev. Paul M. Ouellette, O.M.I., 74, died on June 22, 2016, in Lowell, MA. He was the son of the late William S. Ouellette and Anita B. (Cloutier) (Ouellette) Hajj. He was predeceased by a sister, Anita Marchand, of Nashua, NH.

Fr. Ouellette was born in Lowell, Massachusetts. He attended St. Joseph High School Seminary in Bucksport, ME and Oblate College in Bar Harbor, ME. He pursued further studies in philosophy and theology at the Oblate Scholasticate in Natick, MA. He earned degrees in anthropology and sociology at Boston University, Boston, MA and later attended Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA.

On August 1, 1961, Fr. Ouellette entered the novitiate of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate in Colebrook, NH where he professed his first vows on August 2, 1962. He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Thomas J. Riley on September 9, 1967 in Ste Jeanne d'Arc Church, Lowell, MA.

Over the years, Fr. Ouellette served in many places and in many capacities. His first assignment was at Our Lady of Grace Shrine in Colebrook, NH. He did retreat ministry at St. Paul Retreat Center, Augusta, ME; Ephpheta Retreat House, Manville, RI; and Our Lady Queen of Apostles Retreat House, Hudson, NH. He was the Superior and Director of Programs at the Oblate Center in Natick, MA. He served at St. Joseph the Worker Shrine in downtown, Lowell, MA. He was vocation director during the 1990's in conjunction with preaching missions. From the late 1990's to the present, Fr. Ouellette was assigned to many parishes. He served at Ste Jeanne d'Arc, St. Jean-Baptiste, Holy Family and St. Patrick Parishes in Lowell, MA. He was pastor at St. Patrick Parish from 2011-2016 and also ministered to the Hispanic population. Fr. Ouellette served three parishes in San Fernando, CA while a member of the apostolic community. The parishes were Santa Rosa, St. Ferdinand and Immaculate Conception. He assisted at St. Joseph Parish in the Oblate mission in Faaa, Tahiti in early 2000 following which he was assigned to St. Stephen Parish in Miramar, FL. In recent years, he was a chaplain at Tewksbury State Hospital. At the time of his death, he was a member of the André Garin Community in Lowell, MA and was a resident at St. Joseph the Worker Shrine while serving St. Patrick Parish.

In addition to his Oblate family, he is survived by a brother, Richard, and his wife, Valerie, of Lowell, MA as well as eighteen nieces and nephews.