Rev. Fr. Joseph G. Arsenault

Reverend Fr. Joseph G. Arsenault, 79, passed away after a long illness on May 28, 2026, at Regina Cleri Residence in Boston.

The only child of Joseph and Elizabeth (Porter) Arsenault, Fr. Joe was born and raised in Swansea and lived a life devoted to education, service, and God.

Before entering Blessed John XXIII National Seminary to study for the priesthood, Fr. Joe earned degrees in Sociology and Philosophy from Boston College in 1969 and later a master’s degree in Psychology from Assumption College while studying for the Permanent Diaconate. He was ordained a Permanent Deacon in 1988.

As a deacon, Fr. Joe served at St. Thomas the Apostle in Millis, St. James in Stoughton, Sacred Heart in Middleboro, and St. Francis of Assisi in Braintree. He was also involved in prison ministry at MCI-Walpole, the Southeastern Correctional Center, and Old Colony Correctional Center. His years of ministry as a deacon prepared him for the priesthood, and on May 24, 2008, he was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Boston. He was assigned to St. Bridget Parish in Abington, his only priestly assignment, where he faithfully served the parish community for many years.

Fr. Joe also dedicated much of his life to education, serving as an Assistant Professor at Curry College, a Social Studies teacher at Millis High School, a Social Studies and Religion teacher at Bishop Grimes High School in Syracuse, New York, and as an instructor of Homiletics at St. John’s Seminary.

Fr. Joe loved reading, traveling, and spending time with his friends, especially the “Millis Crew,” who embraced one another as family. He particularly enjoyed conversations about history, religion, Sherlock Holmes novels, and the state of the world.

A man of deep faith and generosity, Fr. Joe had a gift for helping others, whether they were parishioners, students, colleagues, or friends. He will be remembered for his caring nature, his devotion to God and neighbor, and his ability to preach and teach in a manner that drew others into the message of Scripture.

Throughout his life, Fr. Joe faced numerous health challenges, including receiving a kidney transplant. Each challenge was met with prayer, humility, and gratitude. Fr. Joe firmly believed that God was guiding him through every trial and recovery.

Fr. Joe will lie in state at Regina Cleri Residence, 60 William Cardinal O'Connell Way, Boston, on Tuesday, June 2, from 3 PM  to 4 PM.  He will again lie in state at St. Bridget Parish, 455 Plymouth Street Abington, on Wednesday, June 3, from 9 AM to 11:30 AM., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 12:00 PM. Burial will be private

Those who loved Fr. Joe extend their sincere gratitude to the staff of Regina Cleri Residence and Care Dimensions Hospice for their compassionate care and support.