Rev. Herve O. Gagnon, OMI

Rev. Hervé O. "Sam" Gagnon, OMI, 93, died on July 27, 2012, at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Residence in Tewksbury, MA. He was born on July 19, 1919, in Lowell, MA, the son of Louis and Marie-Louise (Arcand) Gagnon and was one of 17 children. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by five sisters (Yvonne (infant), Aurore Belley, Bertha Chandonnet, Yvonne Michaud, and Loretta Gendreau) and ten brothers (Leo, Henri, Arthur, Edmond, Antonio, Louis (infant), Armand, Louis (infant), André and Roland). Roland was also a Missionary Oblate priest who served in Haiti for many years. In addition, he was predeceased by a close friend, Maurice Beaulieu.
Fr. Sam, as he was known to many, entered the novitiate of the Missionary Oblates in Hudson, NH, on August 1, 1939, and made his first vows there on August 2, 1940. His perpetual vows were professed on September 8, 1943, at the Oblate Scholasticate in Natick, MA. Bishop Louis Collignon, OMI, of Les Cayes, Haiti, West Indies, ordained him to the priesthood at St. Jean-Baptiste Church in Lowell on June 24, 1945. He recently celebrated his 67th anniversary of priesthood.
His first assignment from 1947 to 1948 was to Our Lady of Grace Novitiate in Colebrook, NH, where he was the bursar and also went out to preach missions. While there, he initiated construction of the Shrine to Our Lady of Grace as a memorial to the 25th anniversary of the Oblates in Colebrook. He spent the next 12 years as Director of Our Lady Queen of Apostles Retreat House in Hudson, NH. He was instrumental in transitioning this facility from a novitiate to a retreat house, including installation of the chapel, elevator, and a new wing. He was also known for an annual spectacular Christmas light display for many years.
In 1960, he was assigned to Notre Dame de Lourdes Parish in Lowell as Superior, Pastor and Bursar and assisted in moving the parish from Middlesex Street to Smith Street. Fr. Sam constructed a new church, rectory, parish hall and remodeled the school. He converted the former Poor Clare Monastery on Westford Street, Lowell, to a convent for the Sisters of Charity of Ottawa who taught in the parish school. From July of 1966 until 1972 he was superior at Ste. Jeanne d'Arc Parish. He saw to the renovation of the parish, parish hall and school.
For the next 9 years, he ran the Foreign Mission office, which acted as a liaison for Oblate missionaries in Haiti, while doing fundraising. While there, he assisted at St. Mary Magdalen Parish in Dracut, MA. He managed a 14-employee printing plant which generated funds to support the missions in Haiti by doing printing jobs for outside institutions. In 1980 for several months, he traveled to Rome for the Oblates' General Council as a French translator. Upon his return in 1981, Fr. Gagnon became the Director at St. Joseph the Worker Shrine in downtown Lowell. He remained in that position until August, 1994 and was instrumental in overseeing a complete renovation at the Shrine, including stained glass windows, an elevator, Oblate museum and an improved gift shop to name a few. He also completed the restructuring of the old Jordan Marsh warehouse on Kirk Street in Lowell into a residence for Oblate priests called the André Garin Residence.
When it was decided to move the former Northern U.S. Province provincial house and offices from Burns Hill Road in Hudson, NH to Lowell, Fr. Gagnon was assigned to St. Eugene House, Lowell, in August of 1995 as assistant to the provincial treasurer. He oversaw the many renovations necessary to prepare the facility to house the provincial office and Oblates who would reside there year-round as well as Oblates passing through the area who needed hospitality. Once renovations were complete, he became a permanent resident and was the community superior for five years.
While at St. Eugene House, Fr. Sam assisted at St. Francis Parish in Dracut for many years. He restored the chapel at D'Youville Senior Care in Lowell and served on the D'Youville Foundation Board of Trustees. He directed construction of a new office building at St. Joseph Cemetery in Chelmsford, MA, where he also presided at committals and Saturday Masses.
Fr. Gagnon resided at St. Eugene House until May of 2012 when, due to declining health, he transferred to the Immaculate Heart of Mary Residence in Tewksbury.
Not only was Fr. Gagnon quite knowledgeable about construction, renovation and related tasks but he also set up short wave radio communications with Oblates in the missions in Haiti. He was knowledgeable about many other things including printing operations and photography and was involved in producing a film to help raise funds for Haiti, entitled: "He Has Sent Me to Evangelize the Poor". He organized many pilgrimages and weekend retreats over the years. He was once referred to as the "Do It Yourself Priest".
Fr. Gagnon is survived by one sister, Maria SansCartier of Jaffrey, NH, many nieces, nephews, other relatives and a long-time acquaintance and former secretary, Claire Beaulieu, of Lowell.