Priest death ruled a suicide
22 News WWLP.com
Updated: Tuesday, 05 Jul 2011, 12:55 PM EDT
Published : Monday, 04 Jul 2011, 10:18 PM EDT
SPRINGFIELD, Mass.(WWLP) – Springfielddetectives and the HampdenCountymedical examiner have ruled the death of 42 year old Rev. Paul Archambault a suicide.
Springfield Police Sgt Julio Toledo told 22News that Archambault died of a single gunshot wound to his head.
The priest was reported missing after he did not show up for Mass Sunday morning .
His body was found in the closet of the rectory of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Parish in Springfield, where he lived.
Bishop Timothy McDonnell issued a statement on Tuesday, saying in part: “We are all diminished by the tragic death of Father Paul Archambault. He was a good and pastoral priest, a caring chaplain, and a devout man. Yet, he was not immune to illness. Most of us realize that physical illness can be fatal; we sometimes forget that the same is true of illnesses that have no physical cause but wrack the spirit still.”
Comments
OurFailedSociety ·
My condolences to his family…I had the pleasure of meeting Paul while he was working at Baystate and he had a great personality and was very good with the patients and their families. You will be missed Paul…
NO NAME ·
sorry paul you where a great friend class of 1987
Bowman ·
I had the chance to get to know him the past few years. What a shame! Everyone enjoyed his company. It will never be the same without him.
Gemini ·
My condolences to the family! And for everyone throughing horrible statements, you have no idea what his final thoughts were and from my understanding he was a very troubled man with a lot of death in his own personal life. We shouldn’t judge him for what he has done but praise him for the life he has led prior to his final minutes. He was beloved by all and will be missed greatly!
Questions ·
Sad
Also raises questions. Was he being treated for depression or other mental health issues?
Did fellow Priests have any idea how he was?
Why did he have a gun?
Does the Church do what is needed to make Priesthood a viable and healthy vocation
U.kw.im.rite ·
This comment has been deleted by the administrator.
proudirishgirl ·
It raises a question on priests getting married. If he had a wife, maybe he would not have felt so alone. Maybe a wife could have noticed the signs of depression. Priests hear and deal with all our problems, Who helps the with theirs? Priests lead a very lonely life. My prayers go out to his family and friends. May he R.I.P.
Rachel ·
I hope he can rest now-
and I pray that people on and off this site don’t make assumptions that they can’t back up with fact.
Thank you
Skeptic ·
Not sure I buy it. Suicide is a sin, and he’s a priest .. two don’t go together.. it’s.. I dunno I just don’t buy it.
CMK ·
Maybe there was something in his life worse than the sin of killing himself. Does that mean he can’t be buried in a Catholic cemetery because of his suicide?
pedro ·
Whatever done in darkness will come to light
youareloved ·
I have known Paul for over 20 years. Long before he became a priest. Most people will make horrible assumptions and toss around their thoughts in a self-righteous act. It’s that self-righteousness that encompasess people…that keeps those that otherwise would see their self worth in the eyes of God, it keeps them in a dark closet.
Friend ·
Father Paul has been a family friend for many years. He has helped many people. He would always be there if you called on him. Such a great person and such a great priest.
Kat ·
Such a sad story. I wonder what led him to do that? It’s too bad he didn’t get the help he needed to sort things out and not have to resort to such measures. Rest in peace Father.
Hmmmmm ·
We are all human, we make mistakes. God doesn’t punish us for trying our best and failing. As for the nasty posts, “let he who has not sinned cast the first stone” Shame on you!
Guest ·
Sounds like he had a pretty stressful schedule. Too bad he did not have anyone to talk to.
Eileen ·
Rest In Peace Father Paul. Although you were a Priest for a short 5 or 6 years, you had beautiful Priestly ways and had a serious impact on all our lives. You will be sadly missed.
Brenda ·
ALL sin is covered in Christ’s blood. What would be the point of Christ coming that were not the case? What is sad is that he could not reach out to those in his own faith and share his deep personal pain. Why is this? I doubt it has to do with having a wife? Or any other Church rules. I’m guessing it has more to do with just being honest with how you are feeling, and people being comfortable enough to sit with you there. And that includes Priests. May God comfort his family, and friends.
sadandforgiving ·
Rest in Peace Father Paul. Your masses were our families favorite when we attended. Our family will greatly miss you. Prayers your pain is gone and you are finally truly comforted by the Lord.
parent ·
RIP father,sorry you were not comfortable with your skin.
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Death Of SpringfieldPriest Ruled A Suicide
90.9 wburBoston
Jul 5, 2011, 7:33 AM
SPRINGFIELD,Mass.— The death of a Roman Catholic priest inSpringfieldhas been ruled a suicide. Police said Monday that the Rev. Paul Archambault died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. His body was found Sunday at the Sacred Heart rectory.
Archambault said Mass at 4 p.m. Saturday at St. Mary’s church in Hampden, and was scheduled to return there Sunday. When he did not arrive, parish members contacted Sacred Heart. Police say there was no note.
A spokesman for the Diocese of Springfield says Archambault was last publicly seen early Saturday night atBaystateMedicalCenterwhere he served as chaplain.
Bishop Timothy McDonnell said in a statement that the 42-year-old Archambault was “a good and pastoral priest, a caring chaplain, and a devout man” and prayed that God would relieve the “burdens he found unbearable.”
He was ordained in 2005.
Comments
| CMA |
- How very sad that this beautiful man died “in the closet” of a rectory – what a tragic statement. Tonight he knows he was created exactly as God chose him to be, beautiful and gifted, and that that closet he was forced to live and die in was a man made and shameful one.
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Rev. Paul Archambault’s death at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Rectory in Springfield was suicide, police say
The Republican
Published: Monday, July 04, 2011, 5:15 PM Updated: Tuesday, July 05, 2011, 7:57 AM
By Suzanne McLaughlin, The Republican
This is an updated version of a story posted at 10:11 this morning.
Paul Archambault
SPRINGFIELD – Police Sgt. John Delaney confirmed Monday that a 42-year-old priest who was found dead Sunday at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart rectory where he lived died of a self-inflicted gun shot wound.
Police said the Rev. Paul Archambault said the 4 p.m. Mass at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Hampden. He was scheduled to return Sunday morning to the Somers Road church, but did not show up, Mark E. Dupont, spokesman for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield, said.
Dupont said Archambault was last publicly seen early Saturday night when, in his duties as chaplain at Baystate Medical Center, he ministered to a family in the emergency department.
“Obviously, he was doing exactly what he was known to do and that is respond to these emergencies regardless of the day or the time of day,” Dupont said.
Archambault arrived at Baystate about 6 p.m. and left about 45 minutes later, Dupont said. “He seemed fine when he left,” he said.
“At this point we are referring the matter to the (state medical examiner) and Springfield police,” Dupont said.
When Archambault did not arrive to say the Sunday morning Mass in Hampden, parish members contacted priests at Sacred Heart, which is located betweenRosewell Street,Boston Road andBreckwood Boulevard.
Priest found dead in SpringfieldFather Paul Archambault was found dead in a closet at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church in Springfield. His death is being reported as a suicide.
Another priest came to the Hampden church to conduct the service and a search was started, Dupont said.
“He was a very young and very gifted young priest,” Dupont said of Archarmbault, adding that Bishop Timothy A. McDonnell was “tremendously saddened” by the news. “It’s a tremendous loss to the diocese in Springfield.”
Archambault was a part-time assistant pastor at St. Mary’s, whose pastor, the Rev. Timothy J. Murphy, could not immediately be reached for comment. Archambault served regular Masses at the Hampden church, where he was known for his commanding voice and for quizzing parishioners on their knowledge of church doctrine during Mass.
Along with serving as chaplain for Baystate, Archambault, did many special projects including recently serving at an all-night vigil in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
A native of Northampton, Archambault graduated from St. John’s Seminary College in Brighton in 2000 and earned a master’s degree in divinity from Holy Apostles Seminary in Cromwell, Conn. He was ordained as a priest in 2005 and first assigned as a parochial vicar at St. Theresa Parish inSouth Hadley.