STURBRIDGE- Rev. Philip E. Bonvouloir, AA, 82, of Saint Anne-Saint Patrick Parish, died Saturday, April 29, 2012 at the rectory after a brief illness.
He leaves a brother, Roland P. “Peter” Bonvouloir of N. Providence, RI; 2 sisters, Annette S. Hart and her husband Richard of Pittsfield and Yvette Chalock and her husband John of Greenwood, SC; nephews and nieces; great nephews and great nieces; a great great nephew; and his religious brothers in the Assumptionist Community. He was preceded in death by his brother Adrien.
He was born in North Adams, the son of Adrien and Gladys (St.Denis) Bonvouloir. He attended Assumption Preparatory School in Worcester from 1944 to 1945 and later earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Assumption College in Worcester in 1953. He studied at the Saint Augustine Institute in Lormoy, Frances and was awarded his STB from L’Institut Catholique de Paris in 1956. He received a Master of Education Degree from Boston College in 1964. During a sabbatical in 1979 to 1980, he completed further studies at Weston College of Theology in Cambridge.
Father Bonvouloir entered the Assumptionist Order at their novitiate in Quebec in 1951, where he pronounced temporary vows. He made perpetual vows in Lormoy, France on November 21, 1954. He was ordained to the priesthood on March 24, 1957 in Lormoy by Bishop Jacques Menager, the auxiliary bishop of Versailles.
He was a teacher of religion and Dean of Students at Assumption Preparatory School from 1957 to 1968 and then headmaster there from 1968 to 1970. He served as associate pastor of Saint Paul Church in Weirton, WV from 1970 to 1975. He then was the Catholic chaplain at the American Embassy in Moscow (USSR) from 1976 to 1980. He was superior of the Assumptionist Formation Center in Brookline from 1980 to 1984 as well as vocation director for the North American Province from 1981 to 1984. He then became the pastor of Saint Anne-Saint Patrick Parish from 1984 to 1992. He was associate pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, a Hispanic community, in New York City from 1992 to 1998. He was the pastor of the Hispanic community at Saint Joseph Church in Pawtucket, RI from 1999 to 2007, as well as chaplain of the Adult Correctional Institution in Cranston, RI. He has been in residence at Saint Anne-Saint Patrick parish since 2007.
Father Bonvouloir’s professional and religious memberships include the American Personnel and Guidance Association (1957 to 1970), secretary of the Weirton Ministerial Association in Weirton, WV (1970-1975), member of the Weirton Rotary Club (1972-1975), the Inter Community Formation Program in Brookline (1980-1984), the Plenary Council of the North American Province of Assumptionists (1970-1976, 1981-1986, & 1997-1999), member of the Provincial Council (1990-2003) and Assumption College Trustee (1998-2009).
A concelebrated Mass will be held at 10:00 AM Wednesday, May 2, in the Saint Joachim Chapel, 16 Church St., with the Rev. Dennis Gallagher, AA, Regional Superior, as the principal celebrant. Burial will be in Saint Anne’s Cemetery. Calling hours will be held in the Saint Joachim Chapel from 4:00 to 8:00 PM Tuesday, May 1, with a wake service at 7:30 PM, and again from 9:00 to 9:45 AM Wednesday, May 2. Donations may be made to the Augustinians of the Assumption Vocation Fund, Assumptionist Center, 330 Market St., Brighton, MA 02135. Arrangements are under the direction of Sitkowski & Malboeuf Funeral Home, 340 School St., Webster, MA.