Gainesville’s “Beloved Priest and Advocate” Fr. Roland Julien died on Dec. 26 at his home at The Village at Gainesville retirement community.
Julien retired from nearly six decades of full-time ministry in 2015, with 35 years as pastor of Gainesville’s St. Patrick Catholic Church.
“After retirement he was always a priest in his priestly Alb and St. Patrick’s Day Sole he wore, serving others on Fridays with mass to fellow Catholics at the Village,” said Burt Wetherington, Julien’s former personal assistant of 25 years and church congregant, in an email to Mainstreet. “I always looked forward to seeing him every Friday, always a big bright smile and hugs for everyone.”
Known for wearing fedora hats and colorful suspenders, Julien was born on July 22, 1938, in Ogdensburg, New York, near the St. Lawrence River to Clarence M. Julien and Germaine Roy. He grew up with three sisters and moved with his family to Daytona Beach in 1948 where they attended St. Paul’s Catholic Church. He started each day with a four-mile walk on the beach at sunrise.
Influenced by the nuns at his church to pursue priesthood, Julien graduated from St. Paul Catholic School and attended St. Thomas Seminary in Connecticut, as well as St. Mary’s Seminary in Maryland.
In April 1965, Archbishop Joseph P. Hurley ordained Julien into the priesthood for the 17-county Diocese of St. Augustine at Mission Nombre de Dios in St. Augustine.
Early assignments in Julien’s ministry included serving as diocesan director of youth ministry from 1968 to 1972, as parochial vicar at St. Mary Our Lady of Grace Parish and the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine. He was also an administrator and pastor of St. Ambrose Parish in Elkton Our Lady of Victory Parish in Crestview and St. Madeleine Sophie Parish in High Springs.
From 1991 to 2008, Julien provided leadership and pastoral support to area clergy as dean of the Gainesville Deanery and served on the Presbyteral Council from 1995 to 2006, offering advice and guidance to the bishop on diocesan matters.
In 1980, Fr. Julien was named pastor of Gainesville’s St. Patrick Parish. He served there for 35 years, leading efforts to construct a new church and expand the school facilities until he retired in 2015.
During his time as pastor, Julien also ministered as chaplain to a variety of Alachua County organizations, including Catholic Charities, the St. Francis House Board of Directors—where he also served as president—Alachua General Hospital, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Tacachale and the Quiet Courage Rosa Parks Foundation.
He helped name the Gainesville RTS bus station depot after Rosa Parks, co-founded the Action Network and founded the MLK Foundation, receiving the MLK Hall of Fame Award in 2016.
Harboring a love for Christian music, Julien also started WWLC 88.5 FM out of the back of his church. The Catholic radio station broadcasted to the Cross City area until it later shut down for financial reasons.
Julien was a golfer, bowler and photographer, frequented the Clock Restaurant after Mass and always ended conversations and emails with “blessings to you” instead of “goodbye.” Every St. Patrick’s Day—one of his favorite holidays—he wore a green jacket and led a parade around the church property before inviting attendees to enjoy cornbread and cabbage with him.
Julien’s consistent late arrivals were often attributed to his habit of helping others because he loved everyone he met.
“Father Julien’s impact extended to every corner of his community,” Wetherington said. “Parishioners and colleagues alike admired his humility, tireless service and unwavering faith.”
Julien is preceded in death by his parents, his sister Gloria Desrochers (Paul) and nephew Raymond T. Gant. He is survived by sisters Carmen Gant (Raymond) and Claire Lakner (James), four nieces Janet Applegren (Gant), Laura Hughes (Gant), Aimee Moore (Desrochers) and Sharon Haga-Jacques (Gant), nephew Michael Gant, nine grandnieces and nephews, 10 great-grandnieces and nephews and caretakers Kathy Mladinich (Chris), Maureen Sheehan-Carney and Colleen Carney.
Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 5, at St. Patrick Catholic Church (500 NE 16 Ave.) followed by a Funeral Mass at the church at 11 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 6 and burial in St. Madeleine Memorial Garden Cemetery in High Springs.
According to Julien’s obituary webpage, donations can be made to St. Patrick Catholic Interparish School or St. Francis House in Gainesville.
Wetherington said some Alachua County citizens are looking to name NE 16 Avenue —from NE 9 Street to N Main Street—where St Patrick’s Catholic Church is located, Father Roland Julien Way.