Fr. Roger Albert Labonte, M.Afr. St. Petersburg, Florida Obituary

Fr. Roger Albert Labonte, M.Afr.

Father Roger Albert Labonte, passed away peacefully into the loving arms of the Lord his Creator on Monday October 11, 2021 at the age of 86 years old. He was born in Putnam, Connecticut on March 1, 1935 to Joseph Albert Labonte and Anna (Benoit) Labonte. At the age of two months, Roger moved to the family farm in Newmarket, New Hampshire where he grew up with his brother Lionel and sisters Rachael (Dairymple), Lucille (Merrill) and Agnes (King). He attended St. Mary's School in Newmarket, and knew from the fifth grade that he would become a priest. After graduating as Valedictorian of Newmarket High School class of 1953, Roger attended the Seminary of St. Therese in Montreal, Canada. After his second year at the Seminary, Roger learned that there was only one priest for every 10,000 people in Africa as opposed to one priest for every 1<000 people in the US. That cinched it. Jesus was calling him to become a Missionary priest. Roger was one of only nineteen students accepted into the Missionaries of Africa from the US. He studied in Carthage, Tunisia and Israel before making his home in Uganda, with his spiritual friends, helping many orphans and the poorest of the poor. As one of his most significant contributions as a member of the society of the Missionary of Africa, Father Roger founded an inter-religious program (INTERPRO) focused on Christian-Muslim dialogue and published together interfaith magazine for two decades. During his later years, Roger spent his time ministering to his family and friends and spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ His Lord and Savior. His greatest desire was that everyone would know the passionate love of Jesus Christ.
March 1, 1935 - October 11, 202103/01/193510/11/2021
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Fr. Roger Albert Labonte, M.Afr.
Fr. Roger Albert Labonte, M.Afr.

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Obituary

Father Roger Albert Labonte, passed away peacefully into the loving arms of the Lord his Creator on Monday October 11, 2021 at the age of 86 years old. He was born in Putnam, Connecticut on March 1, 1935 to Joseph Albert Labonte and Anna (Benoit) Labonte. At the age of two months, Roger moved to the family farm in Newmarket, New Hampshire where he grew up with his brother Lionel and sisters Rachael (Dairymple), Lucille (Merrill) and Agnes (King). He attended St. Mary's School in Newmarket, and knew from the fifth grade that he would become a priest. After graduating as Valedictorian of Newmarket High School class of 1953, Roger attended the Seminary of St. Therese in Montreal, Canada. After his second year at the Seminary, Roger learned that there was only one priest for every 10,000 people in Africa as opposed to one priest for every 1<000 people in the US. That cinched it. Jesus was calling him to become a Missionary priest. Roger was one of only nineteen students accepted into the Missionaries of Africa from the US. He studied in Carthage, Tunisia and Israel before making his home in Uganda, with his spiritual friends, helping many orphans and the poorest of the poor. As one of his most significant contributions as a member of the society of the Missionary of Africa, Father Roger founded an inter-religious program (INTERPRO) focused on Christian-Muslim dialogue and published together interfaith magazine for two decades. During his later years, Roger spent his time ministering to his family and friends and spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ His Lord and Savior. His greatest desire was that everyone would know the passionate love of Jesus Christ.

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Events

Oct
20
Funeral Mass
Wednesday, October 20 2021
11:00 AM
Missionaries of Africa Residence
5757 7th Ave. No.
St. Petersburg, FL 33710
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