Rev. Lucien J. Bouchard, OMI

Missionary Oblate Priest for 71 years

Rev. Lucien J. Bouchard, OMI, 97, passed away on April 24, 2026, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Residence, Tewksbury, Massachusetts. He was born in South Attleboro, Massachusetts, son of the late Arthur and Blanche (Gagnon) Bouchard.

Father Bouchard entered the Oblate Novitiate in Colebrook, NH in 1949, where he made his first profession on August 2nd, 1950. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 17th, 1955, at Sacred Heart Church in South Natick, MA, by the late Bishop Eric MacKenzie, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Boston.

Father Bouchard spent 18 ½ years (1956-1975) serving as a missionary priest in Laos traveling the countryside in often dangerous conditions ministering to the Iowland Lao and Hmong Hill communities. He was known by all as “the man who walked everywhere.” Fleeing the country because of the Communist takeover, Father Bouchard returned to the United States in 1975. He then travelled to Central Borneo, Indonesia to minister to people in approximately 25 villages (1977-2005). Father Bouchard returned to the United States permanently in 2005, serving as a Parochial Vicar at Christ the King Parish in Perrine, Florida until 2013. At the age of 84, Father retired from active ministry and became a member of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Residence in Tewksbury, MA. Father Bouchard often shared that his ministry now was to support the missions in prayer.

Father Lucien is survived by his sister, Claire (Bouchard) Fachada of Taunton, MA, and many nieces and nephews. He was pre-deceased by his siblings Alice (Bouchard) Cloutier, Lina (Bouchard) Roberge, Felix Bouchard, Clement Bouchard, Rene Bouchard, his twin Jeannette Bouchard, and Sister Jeanne Bouchard.

The memory of “Father B” will forever be treasured by those who assisted him in his ministry and those he served around the world, especially the Hmong community. He will also be missed by his Oblate brothers and the staff at the IHM Residence.

Friends and family are invited to Father Bouchard’s Visitation at Immaculate Heart of Mary Chapel, 486 Chandler Street, Tewksbury, MA on Tuesday, May 5th. There will be a Hmong Wake Prayer at 2:00pm and Visitation from 7:00-9:00pm. Evening Prayer will be held at 7:30pm. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, May 6th at 11:00 AM in the Chapel, followed by burial at Immaculate Heart of Mary Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Oblate Residence, 486 Chandler Street in his memory.

To View the Live Stream of Father Bouchard's Mass please visit:

https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/a26044196800548