Rev. Raymond A. Picard
September 8, 1940 ~ April 20, 2024
Resided in:
North Yarmouth, Maine
North Yarmouth - Rev. Raymond Picard, 83, passed away on April 20, 2024 at home in North Yarmouth.
He was born on September 8, 1940 in Biddeford, ME, the first of 10 children. He grew up on a farm in Saco. When he finished 8th grade his father drove him to meet a bus which he boarded by himself and travelled to Ottawa to attend St. Hyacinth P.Q. and later, St. Paul’s Seminary in Ottawa, Ontario. In 1965 he was ordained at Notre Dame Church in Saco by Bishop Daniel Feeney of the Diocese of Portland, Maine.
He served as a Priest in the Diocese of Portland from 1965 till his retirement in in 2010. He served in many Parishes starting at St. John in Rumford, St. Francis in Waterville, St. Ignatius in Sanford, St. Joseph in Old Town, Holy Family in Daigle, St. Anne in Peter Dana Point, St. Joseph in Sinclair, St. Eutrope in Guerette, St. Athanasius/St. John in Rumford, St. Patrick in Newcastle, Our Lady Queen of Peace, Boothbay Harbor; he last served as Pastor of Sacred Heart and St. Jude in Yarmouth and Freeport respectively.
In addition to serving as a Parish Priest, Fr. Ray was was a spiritual advisor to Cursillo Maine. Father believed that a Cursillo retreat was a powerful way to bring people closer to Christ.
He was predeceased by his parents and two of his brothers, Marcel and David, as well as his sister, Constance.
He is survived by his other siblings, Lorraine Cote (Raymond), Gerard (Priscilla), Andre (Priscilla) Michael (Lisa), Roland, Diane Johnson and many nieces and nephews.
Father Ray was known as a warm, welcoming man with a brilliant smile. He accepted everyone just as he found them.
Relatives and Friends are invited to attend a Reception of the Body and Liturgy of the Hours at 3PM on Thursday, April 25 at Sacred Heart Church, 326 Main St, Yarmouth. Fr. Ray will lie in state at the church until 6PM. A concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30AM on Friday, April 26 at Sacred Heart Church in Yarmouth with The Most Rev. Robert P. Deeley, J.C.D., as Principal Celebrant. Interment will take place at 3PM on Friday, April 26 at St. Patrick's Cemetery, 380 Academy Hill Rd.,
Newcastle.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Conroy-Tully Walker Funeral Home of Portland.
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We are so fortunate to have had Fr. Ray during his years with Cursillo. Such a down-to-earth person whose approachable nature and personal stories helped draw others closer to Jesus, regardless of where they were at on their path. Those he blessed through his ministry will never forget him. Our prayers are with you, Fr. Ray, and your family.
I first met Fr. picard when he was in Sinclair, and I was a newly ordained priest in Madawaska. Over the years I ran into often at priests gatherings, and also concelebrated Mass with him in at Sacred Heart in Yarmouth when I was the sponsor of two daughters of friends of mine who were members of his parish. In the several years, as I work in the hospital, I had the opportunity to minister tge Sacraments to him when he was ill. Fr. Picard was always warm, welcoming, and showed interest in my ministry whenever we met. He was loved by many people in Yarmouth, where I now live. May you rest in peace Fr. Picard.
Uncle Ray was an amazing person. He had the best stories, the kindest heart and amazing wisdom. I enjoyed my time spent with him. So very grateful to have had him in my life. He always said he would go when God called him. He is home ♥️
While we were together on vacation in Quebec, my husband, Bill dropped a $20 bill into a river we standing by. It floated a bit till it got caught on an abutment of a small bridge. Father summoned us to get gum, chew it, and give it to him to place on a stick, and leaning perilously close to falling in, managed to stick the bill to the gum and hoisted it up to Bill, saying, “Now, you can by me a drink!”
He was a close personal friend of mine and my late husband. He was also our Pastor at St. Patrick’s and Sacred Heart.
He was kind, gentle, despite a gruff manner sometimes. He was also very intelligent, a wonderful homilist. He was a truly holy man. One found Christ in him after being with him only a minute
My family and I were blessed by meeting Fr. Ray upon moving to Newcastle and beginning our membership in St. Patrick’s parish in July, 2000. Fr. Ray’s deep warmth and spontaneous expression of God’s love fed and inspired us to serve as religious ed. teacher, altar boys, Eucharistic Minister and Lector. His re-assignment left us bereft, mourning the loss of his intuitive, humorous and loving interpretation of God’s teachings. May his soul shine brightly in Heaven, and may he continue to pray for us all.
Fr. Ray left a legacy of love. While driving home from mass one morning I offered a ride to a person walking on Academy Hill Rd. Accepting my offer, he stated he was in training for a religious order, and he’d come to hear Fr. Ray because of his great ability to convey the love of Christ. Fr. Ray inspired many to live in the light of Christ.
We came to St. Patrick’s because of Father Ray. We participated in RCIA and guided my husband to be confirmed in the Catholic faith and later blessed our marriage in the church. Father Ray was a true example of leading a life in Christ. The world was a better place with him in it. I feel so blessed that he was in my life and my family’s. He was true to himself, true to God and a living example of the power of love. He brought out the best in all of us; JOY- Jesus, Others, Yourself. He will remain forever in my heart. ❤️
I was a member of St. Patrick’s church in Newcastle while Fr. Ray was there. He was so kind, patient, understanding, and radiated such a warmth that you were more than happy to call him “friend”. SO happy that he now can be at peace with Lord reaping the reward he so justly deserves. ❤️
One of my finest moments in my life was serving as an alter boy when Father Ray celebrated his first mass as a priest. I was 12 and was proud of my faith as well as having him as a cousin.
Uncle Raymone you will be missed by all and I will never forget all of your wisdom and kindness
My condolences to the entire Picard family and his his loyal and wonderful caregiver Aleta. We will all miss him so much.
I have known Father Ray for many years. If there was a more spiritual person I haven’t met them!
We met Fr. Ray over 30 years ago and enjoyed every minute of him. He participated in our Christmas parties and helped out when we needed his guidance. My sons were his alter servers, my wife was his Eucharist Minister and I was his reader. May God welcome him with open arms. He is in our prayers.🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
Father Ray married Sandra and I at the old Saint Patrick’s church in New Castle on July 3rd 2004. For our interview, we walked up to the rectory kitchen door and peeped in the through the screen. The first thing Father Ray did was offer us fudge and then treated us to an hour of stories. A truly wonderful Man of God. – Sean and Sandra McDermott
Fr. Ray was cherished by the many of us who had the honor of working on a “Cursillo team” with him. How I treasure the many meeting we had working on the board to plan the retreats. I was blessed to have had the opportunity to walk with him on a short part of my journey through life. May he now make his presence known in the company of the angels who are waiting for him.
Fr Ray was one of the greatest to work with on our Cursillo weekends…. When he was around all went smooth for he always shared the calming peace of our brother, Jesus…who is welcoming home one of his best servants