Reverend Rene J. Gelinas, M.S., 80, a Missionary of Our Lady of La Salette died Friday, June 14, 2013 at Hartford House. Father Gelinas was born on July 20, 1932 in Waterbury, Connecticut, the son of the late Berame Joseph and Alice (Bellemare) Gelinas. He attended La Salette Seminary High School in Enfield, New Hampshire, and La Salette Seminary in East Brewster, Massachusetts. He entered the La Salette Novitiate on June 15,1954 in Center Harbor, NH and made his first profession of vows there on July 2, 1955. Father completed his studies at La Salette Seminary in Attleboro, MA and was ordained to the priesthood on September 19, 1960 in Fall River, MA by Bishop James Connolly. He taught briefly at the Seminary in Attleboro before leaving for the missions in the Philippines where he engaged in pastoral and educational ministries until 1964. After a brief period of service as Assistant Procurator and then as Procurator for the La Salette Philippine missions, he entered the U.S. Army as military chaplain in 1967. He served with distinction and dedication and completed a tour of duty with our troops in both Vietnam and Korea. Eight years later he was appointed assistant pastor of Our Lady of the Cape Parish in Brewster, MA, and in 1976 was named its pastor. In 1982 he was named pastor of Holy Redeemer Parish in West Lebanon, NH, and served there until 1993 when he was appointed Assistant Provincial Treasurer in Attleboro. The La Salette Community recognized Father's organizational and leadership skills and for the following six years he served in various administrative capacities on the General and Provincial levels as General Assistant in Rome, Vicar Provincial, Provincial Secretary, Director of La Salette Shrine in Attleboro and also as its Superior. Later he served as Chaplain of Mount Sacred Heart Convent in Littleton, NH for the Daughters of the Charity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus until he retired to Hartford House in 2006.

In addition to his La Salette confreres, he is survived by a niece, Theresa Martin, of Waterbury and an adopted son, Thoeup That, and his wife and two sons also of Waterbury.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at10:30 a.m. on Monday, June 17, 2013 at Hartford House Chapel, 85 New Park Avenue, Hartford followed by burial at Mt. St. Benedict Cemetery in Bloomfield. Friends may call at Hartford House at 9:00 a.m. on Monday preceding the funeral services.

Contributions may be made in Father's memory to: Missionaries of La Salette Retirement Fund, 915 Maple Avenue, Hartford, CT 06114-2330. To share a memory with the Community and family, please visit www.dillonbaxter.com