VANDAL, Rev. Roland G. M.S.
Reverend Roland G. Vandal, M.S., 88, a Missionary of Our Lady of La Salette, of Hartford, CT., died September 12, 2011 at St. Mary Home in West Hartford, CT. He was born in Southbridge, MA on January 26, 1923, son of the late Stanislas and Alice (Guilbault) Vandal. He attended schools in Southbridge and entered the La Salette Minor Seminary in Enfield, NH in 1936. Father began his La Salette Novitiate in 1942 and made his first profession of vows on July 2, 1943 in Enfield, NH. He continued his studies for the priesthood at the La Salette Seminary in Attleboro, MA and was ordained a priest on June 11, 1949. Father Vandal studied at St. Paul University, Ottawa, Canada where he received a master's degree in Pastoral Sciences. Over the years Father Vandal taught in various La Salette Seminaries in Enfield, NH; Attleboro, MA; East Brewster, MA; and Bouleyers, Switzerland. He also ministered in Montreal, Canada as assistant pastor of La Salette Parish and as a hospital chaplain. After five years as director for La Salette foreign missions, he was sent to minister in the La Salette Province of Mary Queen where he served as assistant pastor in Golden Meadow, LA before returning to studies at St. Paul University in Ottawa, Canada. In 1971 Father returned to Louisiana as assistant pastor at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Violet. Three years later he was named assistant pastor at Our Lady of La Salette Parish in Montreal, Canada where he ministered until 1982. Father Vandal served as assistant pastor at St. Mary/St. John parishes in Cambridge-Johnson, VT until 1989 when Father Vandal was renamed to Our Lady of La Salette Parish in Montreal. In 2002 he retired to the La Salette Hartford House. The following year Father became a resident of St. Mary Home in West Hartford. In addition to his La Salette Community he is survived by many nephews and nieces. He was predeceased by seven brothers and seven sisters.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the La Salette Chapel, 85 New Park Avenue, Hartford on Wednesday, (September 14, 2011) at 10:30 a.m. Burial will be held at Mt. St. Benedict Cemetery in Bloomfield, CT. Friends may call on Wednesday (September 14, 2011) from 9 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. at Hartford House. Contributions in Fathers memory may be made to: Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette Retirement Fund, 915 Maple Avenue, Hartford, CT 06114-2330. To share a memory with the family, please visit www.dillonbaxter.com