Farewell Fr Quesnel

Flashback: Fr Roland Quesnel blows the trombone May 30, 2013 as the Corpus Christi procession made its way down Charlotte Street.

The funeral Mass for Fr Roland Quesnel CSSp took place last Monday at the Assumption Church, Maraval. Fr Quesnel died October 11 at the age of 90.

The chief celebrant was Bishop Malcolm Galt CSSp at Fr Quesnel’s written request; among the concelebrating priests were Provincial Superior of the Holy Ghost Fathers, Fr Gregory Augustine CSSp and Episcopal Vicar for the Northern Vicariate Fr Gerard Bernier. Archbishop Joseph Harris was seated in the sanctuary and five Spiritan seminarians performed altar servers’ duties.

According to Fr Peter de la Bastide CSSp, one of Fr Quesnel’s explicitly written requests was that he did not want an eulogy. Instead, in his homily, Bishop Galt offered an overview of Fr Quesnel’s life and career as a Spiritan and teacher at St Mary’s College after his July 17, 1955 ordination in Trinidad then later at the Congregation’s Generalate (Mother House) in Rome.

The readings were taken from the Book of Revelation and read by a relative of Fr Quesnel, while Bishop Galt proclaimed the Gospel.

The congregation was largely made up of Fr Quesnel’s relatives and friends, including nurses who attended to him during his latter years, and staff from Spiritan House.

The resident Assumption church choir enhanced the liturgy with traditional hymns with support in song by a contingent of pupils from the Sacred Heart RC Primary where Fr Quesnel was once associated.

Fr Augustine led the Final Commendation. Fr Roland Quesnel was interred at the Lapeyrouse Cemetery. – KJ