Repose of the Soul of Fr. Willy Raymond

The 11:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, Mar. 15 will include an intention for the repose of the soul of Fr. Willy Raymond. The Mass is available via livestream below.

Note: This is not a funeral Mass or memorial. This Fourth Sunday of Lent will include an intention for the repose of Fr. Raymond. The funeral Mass can be viewed HERE.

Fr. Raymond, C.S.C., was born in Old Town, Maine, on March 5, 1944, to Joseph and Lydia (Belanger) Raymond and is the eighth of twelve children. In 1964, he entered the Congregation of Holy Cross and made his First Vows on July 16, 1966. In 1967, he earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Stonehill College in North Easton, Mass., and in 1971, he earned a Master in Theology (M.Th.) from the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Ind. He made Final Vows on April 1, 1970, and was ordained a Holy Cross priest on April 3, 1971.

After ordination in 1971, Fr. Raymond taught at St. Joseph’s High School in South Bend, Ind., before he transferred to fwrrem teach and coach at Notre Dame High School in Fairfield, Conn., from 1972-1974. Beginning in 1974, he served as director of vocations for the Eastern Province of Priests and Brothers of the Congregation of Holy Cross for the next five years. From 1979-1992, he served in campus ministry at Stonehill College in North Easton, Mass. During this time, he also served as director of Candidate Program, director of Holy Cross Center, assistant Dean of Students, and director of Residence Life. In addition, he served on the Board of Trustees of King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, Penn., and Stonehill College, and on the Board of Directors of Holy Cross Family Ministries. From 1993-1994, he served as pastor of Saint Francis de Sales Parish in Bennington, Vt. From 1994-1998, he was assigned as assistant provincial, vicar for the Eastern Province, before serving as provincial from 1998-2000. In 2000, he moved to Hollywood, Calif., to serve as national director of Family Theater Productions until 2014. From 2014-2022, he served as president of Holy Cross Family Ministries in North Easton, Mass., before residing and assisting at Stonehill College until his passing.

Fr. Raymond received the Genesis Award for outstanding service on the Board of Trustees of Stonehill College in 2000. He was also presented with the Magis Award from the Loyola Marymount University and Religious Education Congress in Anaheim for outstanding service to the film community in Hollywood and Los Angeles. Fr. Raymond has worked with various community organizations, including the Brockton Interfaith Community in Massachusetts and Catholic Detention Ministry in California. The book, “The Family That Prays Together Stays Together: A Bead-by-Bead Family Guide through the Mysteries,” written by Fr. Raymond, guides parents and families on how to pray and reflect on the mysteries of the Rosary. He was a diehard fan of the Boston Red Sox, even though he served as chaplain for the Los Angeles Dodgers through the Catholic Athletes for Christ (CAC) during the time he lived in California.