Auburn- On September 12, 2010, the Reverend William E. Babineau was called to his rest and to the glory of the Resurrection promised by the Lord. He was 74 years old.
Father Babineau was born on May 3, 1936 in Mexico, Maine, the son of William J. and Blanche (Paulin) Babineau. He was ordained a priest on July 2, 1968 by the Most Reverend Paul Rausch, D.D., Bishop of Innsbruck, Austria. Father Babineau studied at the College of the Holy Cross, Worcester and Weston College, an affiliate of Boston College, Boston, MA. He completed his ecclesiastical studies at Innsbruck Theologate Seminary in Innsbruck, Austria after having first attended St. Andrew-on-Hudson, Seminary, Poughkeepsie, NY. Father Babineau was a Jesuit priest for a number of years before he was laicized and then returned to ministry and was incardinated into the Diocese of Manchester on February 26, 1993.
Father Babineau was assigned as associate pastor of Saint Catherine Parish in Manchester in June 1993.
In June 1994, Bishop Leo E. O’Neil appointed Father Babineau as Administrator of Guardian Angel Parish in Berlin. In May 1998, Bishop O’Neil appointed Father Babineau Administrator of Saint Anne Parish in Berlin and in June 1999 Bishop John B. McCormack appointed him pastor of Saint Paul Parish in Franklin where he served faithfully until his retirement in July 2004. During his retirement he took up residence at St. Peter Church.
Members of his family include one brother, James Babineau of Uxbridge, MA., and two sisters, Sally Dudgeon of Kentucky and Patricia Sabourin of Nevada.
On Sunday, September 19, 2010, the Rite of Reception of the Body will take place at Saint Peter Church, 567 Manchester Road in Auburn, NH from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m., concluding with Evening Prayer. On Monday, September 20, 2010, Father Babineau will lie in state at the church from 9:00 a.m. till 9:45 a.m. The Most Reverend John B. McCormack, Bishop of Manchester, will preside at a Mass of Christian Burial on Monday, September 20, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. The Rite of Committal will be celebrated after the Mass at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Manchester, New Hampshire. The J.N. Boufford & Sons Funeral Home in Manchester, New Hampshire has care of the arrangements.
For more information and online guest book please visit www.bouffordfuneralhome.com.