CARIBOU — The Rev. Raymond P. Morency will retire from active ministry effective July 1. A native of Lewiston, Morency attended Lewiston High School and earned an associate degree in business from the University of Maine and a bachelor’s degree from Thomas College in Waterville. He served in the U.S. Army and worked as a personnel manager at Portland Stove Foundry and later with North Anson Reel Co. before entering St. Mary’s Seminary & University in Baltimore, Maryland. Morency was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Edward C. O’Leary at Holy Cross Church in Lewiston in May 1987.

His first assignment was to St. Andre Parish in Biddeford as associate pastor. In July of 1989, he was assigned as parochial vicar to St. Augustine Parish in Augusta. In 1995, Morency accepted a commission to return to active duty as a U.S. Army chaplain for three years. After his years of service, he returned to the diocese in July of 1998 and was named pastor of Our Lady of the Lakes Parish in Oquossoc, which also included St. Luke Church in Rangeley, St. John Church in Stratton and, in the winter, Bell Chapel in Sugarloaf. In July 2000, Morency was appointed pastor of St. Anne Parish in Dexter.

In addition to his duties at St. Anne Parish, Morency was appointed pastor of St. Agnes Parish in Pittsfield for a year starting in April 2002. In August of 2005, Morency was named parochial vicar at St. Mark Parish in Ashland; St. Mary Parish in Presque Isle; St. Joseph Parish in Mars Hill; St. Denis Parish in Fort Fairfield; St. Louis Parish in Limestone; and Holy Rosary Parish in Caribou. In addition to those responsibilities, in 2007, Morency was also appointed as parochial vicar at Sacred Heart Parish in North Caribou and St. Theresa Parish in Stockholm. In July of 2009, the parishes became the Parish of the Precious Blood which Morency still serves today.