PORTLAND — Bishop Robert P. Deeley, J.C.D., recently announced a number of priest assignments, as well as the retirement of Fr. Joel R. Cyr.
Taking Fr. Cyr’s place effective Dec. 1 will be Fr. Bruce M. Siket, who has been appointed pastor of Christ the Divine Mercy Parish (St. Martin of Tours Church, Millinocket; St. Peter Church, East Millinocket) and St. Benedict Parish in Benedicta.
Effective Dec. 1, Fr. Joël R. Cyr, current pastor of Christ the Divine Mercy Parish (churches comprising the parish listed above) and St. Benedicta Parish in Benedicta, will retire from active ministry.
Born on Christmas Day in 1944, Fr. Cyr attended St. Louis School in Fort Kent. He entered St. Joseph’s Seminary in Bar Harbor, studied philosophy at Ottawa University, and continued his theology studies at the University Seminary in Ottawa. Fr. Cyr holds B.A., B.Ph., S.T.B., B.Th., and M.Th. degrees.
He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Peter L. Gerety at St. Louis Church in Fort Kent on May 29, 1971. He served as an assistant pastor at St. Philip Parish in Auburn, St. Theresa Parish in Mexico, and St. Thomas Parish in Madawaska, before being named pastor of St. Gerard Parish in Grand Isle in 1979.
Fr. Cyr was also appointed as chaplain of Diocesan Human Relations Services in Aroostook County in 1981. A year later, Fr. Cyr became pastor of St. Mary Parish in Eagle Lake, where, after receiving a recommendation from the state’s chief ranger, he was named state spiritual director for the Catholic Order of Foresters.
In 1986, Fr. Cyr was appointed pastor of St. Louis Parish in Limestone, and, in 1990, was asked by Bishop Joseph J. Gerry to assume additional pastoral responsibilities at St. Denis Parish in Fort Fairfield as well.
In 1997, Fr. Cyr was appointed administrator of St. Joseph and St. Teresa parishes in Brewer. He was named pastor of the parishes less than a year later. In 2006, he was named administrator of St. Martin of Tours Parish in Millinocket, St. Peter Parish in East Millinocket and St. Benedict Parish in Benedicta.
In 2007, Fr. Cyr became pastor of the newly-formed Christ the Divine Mercy Parish in Millinocket and East Millinocket, while remaining pastor of St. Benedict Parish — parishes he continues to serve today.
