F. Gilles Roy

Monsignor F. Gilles Roy, 91, of Worcester, passed away peacefully, Saturday, October 20, at the Rose Monahan Hospice Home. He was born on May 24, 1927, in Central Falls, R.I., son of Richard and Corinne (Verreau) Roy. He graduated from Assumption High School and Assumption College, Worcester. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1945-48, aboard a medical ship at Okinawa, Japan. Monsignor studied for the priesthood at the Seminary of Philosophy and Grand Seminary, Montreal, and was ordained a priest on May 30, 1957 in St. Paul Cathedral by Bishop Wright. He was associate pastor of St. Theresa Parish, East Blackstone; Immaculate Conception, Fitchburg; St. Cecilia Parish, Leominster, and St. Peter Parish, Northbridge. In 1967 he was assigned to the Diocese of Sicuani, Peru, where he served as a missionary priest for the parishes of San Pedro and San Pablo. Upon his return, he was named pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Fitchburg, on Sept. 4, 1979, and continued work with the Spanish Apostolate in the Fitchburg area. On July 15, 1983, he was named pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Worcester. On Sept. 12, 1984, he returned to the Diocese of Sicuani, Peru. That year, Bishop Flanagan named him director of the first Worcester Diocesan Missionary Unit in Latin America. The Unit served two parishes in Sicuani and included two Worcester Diocesan nuns, Sister Ann Marie Marshall, R.S.M., and Sister Paula Cormier, P.B.V.M. Pope John Paul II named him a monsignor on Sept. 29, 2003. He retired from active ministry June 1, 2011. He resided at Notre Dame, Long Term Care Center in Worcester. He was predeceased by two sisters, Jeanine O’Keefe and Louise LaBrosse. He leaves several nieces and nephews. The Mass of Christian burial will be held Saturday, October 27, at 11:00 A.M. at Saint Cecilia’s Church, 180 Mechanic St., Leominster. Monsignor will lie in state for visitation before Mass from 9:00 to 10:30 A.M. in the Church. Burial will be in Notre Dame Cemetery in Pawtucket, RI. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Priest Retirement Fund in c/o Diocese of Worcester, 49 Elm Street , Worcester , Ma 01609.