1927 – 2014

AUBURN — The Rev. Paul M. Pare, 87, passed away at the Hospice House of Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice on Monday, Nov. 3, following a long, valiant journey with vascular dementia.

He was born in Lewiston on Oct. 26, 1927, a son of Cyrille and Aurore (Lessard) Pare. The Rev. Paul attended Holy Cross School and graduated as a member of St. Dominic High School’s first graduating class in 1945, where he excelled in sports: playing baseball as catcher, goalie on the hockey team and also played football.

Following graduation, a scholarship led him to attend Assumption College in Massachusetts, where he again was very involved in the sports he loved. From there, he pursued his studies in preparation to the priestly ministry at St. Paul’s Seminary in Ottawa, Canada. He was ordained a priest on May 30, 1953, in Portland, by Bishop Daniel J. Feeney, thus beginning 60 years of active ministry in the diocese.

His first assignment was as an assistant at St. Mark’s Parish in Sheridan/Ashland for two years. He then served as curate at St. Ignatius Parish in Sanford for 10 years and at St. Martin de Tours Parish in Millinockett. In 1968, he was named pastor of St. James the Greater Parish in Woodland. This was followed by pastorates in the parishes of St. Augustine in August, St. Joseph’s in Biddeford and St. Francis of Assissi in Belfast, where he ministered for eight years.

He was then assigned to the Parish of Notre Dame in Waterville, where he served not only as a pastor but was named as parochial vicar of Sacred Heart and St. Francis de Sales Parishes. His next assignments were at St. Ambrose Parish in Richmond and St. Leo’s Parish in Litchfield. Though he was then of age to officially retire from ministry, he honored the bishop’s request to minister as interim pastor at St. Andrew’s Parish in Augusta for two years and later at Holy Rosary Parish in Sabattus.

He retired from official pastoral duties in 2000, but continued to serve (as priest in residence) at St. Paul’s Retreat Center in Augusta for two years and again (as priest in residence) at St. Bridget’s Parish in North Vassalboro for a year.

From there, he officially retired and moved to the Holy Family rectory in Lewiston, where he enjoyed the opportunity to become an itinerant priest, traveling to one parish or another throughout the diocese on nearly every given weekend, replacing some of his fellow priests in over 50 parishes across the state. He enjoyed the opportunity to still serve, as well as meeting new people. Many will remember that it was in this period of his ministry that the song “Day by Day” became a standard ending to most Sunday Masses he celebrated, as he invited the congregation to sing it with him, urging them to incorporate the message in each of their lives: “Day by Day, O Dear Lord, Three Things I Pray: See Thee More Clearly, Love Thee More Dearly, Follow Thee More Nearly, Day By Day.”

Besides his parish ministry, the Rev. Paul was dean of his deanery for three consecutive terms. He served on the Priests Senate for four terms and on the personnel board from 1976 through the late 1980s. He was appointed to the Diocesan Board of Education in 1973. He served on the Diocesan Finance Council for many years. He was also chaplain to the Servants of the Blessed Sacrament Sisters in Waterville, as well as to other religious congregations.

Throughout his 60 years of ministry, he always addressed whatever obstacle or adversity that came his way with dignity, integrity, enthusiasm and with a resolve in mind. He was also known to actively reach out to his parishioners as well as his fellow priests, especially those in pain or going through personal conflicts.

The Rev. Paul was a lover of life and it was evident in all he did. Whether he was doing his priestly ministry, renovating a church building, canoeing on the Allagash, watching a sunrise, researching genealogy, climbing Mt. Katahdin, singing a song, enjoying his rustic camps, first in Millinockett and later in Belgrade, instructing a convert, spending time with friends or playing a game of volleyball with his nieces and nephews, he did it all with zest.

We, his family, will be forever grateful for the life-changing generosity Paul extended to us in so many ways and areas of our lives and for the many wonderful memories he leaves us with. Because of him, our lives have been enriched.

He is survived by his sisters, Madeleine Roy and Marguerite and husband, Dr. Raynald Roy; one brother, Andre and wife, Mariette; as well as many nieces and nephews and close friends who will miss him dearly.

The Rev. Paul was predeceased by his parents; two half-brothers, Cyrille Jr. and Clifford Pare; three sisters, Patricia Camire, Lucille, Sister Sylvie, OP, and Louise Pare; two brothers, Louis and Jean-Thomas; as well as four nephews, George Camire, Michael and David Roy and Richard Pare; and several brother priests from his Emmaus group who were very dear to him.

Our family extends a very sincere thank-you to all his caretakers on 4-East at d’Youville Pavilion, where he resided for almost two years, and to the caring staff at the Androscoggin Hospice House.

Online condolences and sharing of memories may be expressed at www.lynchbrothers.com.