Diocese of Fall River announces death of retired priest remembered for quick wit and kind, compassionate heart
A retired priest from the Diocese of Fall River died on Monday, January 20, 2025, following a brief illness, the Diocese said in a statement.
The following is the statement:
Because of his heartfelt homilies, spiritual devotion, sharp humor, and gentle, caring nature, Reverend Robert J. Powell was adored by his family, friends, and parishioners. He will be remembered for sharing his love and trust in Christ with many people over the years.
He was the son of Violette E. (Duval) Powell and the late Arthur E. Powell, and was born in Acushnet. Fr. Powell graduated with honors from Bishop Stang High School in 1967. In August 1968, he took his first vows and joined the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus & Mary. He majored in philosophy and minored in music when he graduated from St. Mary’s College in Winona, Minnesota. He later enrolled in The Washington Theological Coalition’s graduate program in Washington, DC. Along with earning a Master of Divinity degree, he also completed counseling classes at Catholic University and trained as a group counselor at the Washington Psychiatric Foundation. At the William S. Hall Psychiatric Institution in Columbia, South Carolina, he finished a Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) unit.
Bishop Daniel A. Cronin consecrated him to the priesthood in 1976 at St. Joseph’s Church in Fairhaven, Massachusetts, after he took his solemn vows in California in 1975. After serving as a teacher at Damien High School in California for three years, he spent two summers at the United Institute of Bethlehem, Connecticut, providing spiritual guidance and retreat work. He served as the director of the Sacred Heart Retreat House in Gallup, New Mexico, for two years and joined the West Coast Association of Spiritual Directors. He later served as the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts’ vocation director and assistant novice master before becoming the assistant director of the Neuman Center at the University of California, Davis. After that, Fr. Powell graduated from the Institute of Religious Formation in St. Louis, Missouri, with a diploma in Formative Spirituality.
He transferred his vows to the Camaldolese Benedictine Monks of Big Sur, CA, where he lived as a hermit monk for nine years in search of a life of more introspective prayer and seclusion. He returned to his native diocese of Fall River after taking a leave of absence due to his poor health. After that, he was the parish vicar of St. Mary Parish in Seekonk, Massachusetts; St. Pius X Parish in South Yarmouth, Massachusetts; and St. Julie Billiart Parish in Dartmouth, Massachusetts. He was also the Chaplain at Sturdy Hospital in Attleboro, Massachusetts, at the time. After that, he was appointed as the temporary administrator of North Attleboro’s St. Mary Parish. For eight years, Fr. Powell was the priest of St. Joan of Arc Parish in Orleans, Massachusetts. Serving as the pastor of St. Lawrence Parish in New Bedford, Massachusetts, was his last job. He continued to assist at different parishes across the diocese after retiring on July 1st, 2018.
His brother Thomas, his two sisters Laurie Kinney and her husband John Kinney, Susan Powell and her partner Angie Markwell, his nephews Jeffrey Powell and John Kinney and his wife Ali, niece Audra Kinney, and sister-in-law Mary Powell are among the survivors. Richard Powell, his brother, predeceased him.
The visitation is scheduled for Monday, January 27, 2025, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at St. Julie Billiart Church, 494 Slocum Rd., Dartmouth, MA. Friends and family are welcome. On Tuesday, January 28, 2025, at 11:00 am, St. Julie Billiart Church will celebrate his Christian burial Mass. He will thereafter be buried in Sacred Heart Cemetery in New Bedford. The Waring-Sullivan Funeral Home in Dartmouth is in charge of making the arrangements.
