MANCHESTER, N.H. – Rev. Msgr. Paul D. Gleason, 91, of the Bishop Peterson’s Residence, Manchester, N.H., died Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013, in Manchester, N.H. Born May 9, 1921, in Bangor, he was the son of Irving J. and Roselle C. (Herlihy) Gleason.
He attended St. John School and John Bapst High School, Bangor, and graduated from Holy Cross College in 1943. He studied theology at St. Augustine Seminary, Toronto. Monsignor was ordained to the priesthood in Portland by Bishop Daniel J. Feeney, May 31, 1947. He was assistant pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Lewiston, 1947-1961; pastor of St. Ambrose Parish, Richmond, 1961-1964; and rector of Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Portland, 1964-1971. He was pastor of St. Patrick, Lewiston, from 1971 to his retirement in 1991. He was named Honorary Prelate to his Holiness by Pope Paul VI, Dec. 20, 1968. Throughout his priestly life Msgr. Gleason served as spiritual director of the Legion of Mary, directory of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine and moderator of the Catholic Literary Guild. He was chaplain of the Bureau of Human Relations, Knights of Columbus, Daughters of Isabella, Rosary Sodality, Queen’s Guild, Bates College and St. Paul’s Guild. He was chairman of the Diocesan Task Force for Education, a Pro-Judge for the Tribunal, and dean of Cumberland and Androscoggin counties. He was a member of the Diocesan School Board, Diocesan Finance Committee, Clergy Benefit Plan and a Diocesan consultant. He founded the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Lewiston, and at the Cathedral, Portland. He served on the Pastoral Care Board of Central Maine Medical Center, and was a board director of St. Mary’s Hospital, Lewiston. He was member of the Priest Senate and Commission for New Parishes.
He is survived by several cousins.
Services will be 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at Cathedral of Immaculate Conception, Portland. Interment at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Bangor. No visitation. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Monsignor Gleason’s memory to the Clergy Health Plan, 510 Ocean Ave., Portland, ME 04103-4936. A service of Albert & Burpee Funeral Home. Donations and condolences may be accessed online at www.albert-burpee.com.
Rev. Msgr. Paul D. Gleason
