MAURICE F. OUELLET

REV. MAURICE F. OUELLET, S.S.E. - SELMA, Ala. - Rev. Maurice F. Ouellet, S.S.E, 84, died on July 25, 2011. Father Ouellet, son of Thomas and Auremina (Pare) Ouellet, was born on Sept. 10, 1926, in St. Albans. He was a professed member of the Society of Saint Edmund for 64 years and an Edmundite priest for over 59 years. Fr. Ouellet graduated from Saint Michael's College in 1948. Following his ordination in 1952, Fr. Ouellet's journey as a priest began as assistant pastor at St. Elizabeth's Parish in Selma, Ala. for a year, followed by missionary work at Dauphin Island and Fowl River, Ala. until 1956. From 1956 to 1959, Fr. Ouellet served as Instructor and Vice Principal at Cardinal Mindszenty High School in Dunkirk, N.Y. He then became Vocation Director and Secretary to the Superior General of the Society of St. Edmund in Winooski from 1959 to 1961. Returning to Selma, Ala., Fr. Ouellet was pastor at St. Elizabeth's Parish and also director of the Don Bosco Boys Club from 1961 to 1965. Fr. Ouellet was well-known and highly regarded for his work during the Civil Rights movement. The next four years Fr. Ouellet spent as novice master at St. Edmund's Novitiate, Mystic, Conn. and then went on to receive his certification in psychology at St. Michael's College. He became Director of Counseling at St. Theresa Parish, Houston, TX and was a member of the faculty and counseling office at the University of St. Thomas, Houston, TX from 1972 to 1974. The next assignment would bring Fr. Ouellet to St. Michael's College again as the first director of the Student Resource Center, a position he held until 1982. He continued as counselor and faculty member for an additional year and was a member of the Board of Trustees at St. Michael's College. Fr. Ouellet served as replacement pastor for two members of the Society of St. Edmund and then pastor of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Swanton, and assistant pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Groton, Conn. In 1995, Fr. Ouellet was the first Catholic priest to be inducted in the National Voting Rights Hall of Fame during the 30th anniversary of Bloody Sunday in Selma, Ala. Fr. Ouellet retired in 1993, residing in Florida until 2003 when he moved to Selma, Ala. Besides his brothers in religion, Fr. Ouellet is survived by his brother, John Ouellet of St. Albans; nieces, Jacqueline Ouellet and Line Pichette; and nephews, John Ouellet and Marc Ouellet. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, July 29, 2011, at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church at 11 a.m. in Selma, Ala. Interment will be at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Holy Angels Parish, St. Albans at a later date. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to: Edmundite Southern Missions, 1428 Broad Street, Selma, AL 36701.