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The Rev. Raymond A. Lettre has been a businessman, husband, parent and priest. After tomorrow, he'll join the ranks of the retired.
By GAIL HOLLENBECK
© St. Petersburg Times, published June 29, 2002
CITRUS SPRINGS -- At a recent church service, it was said of the Rev. Raymond A. Lettre that he has had the best of five worlds. He would agree. The retiring priest of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church has worn the hats of husband, parent (and grandparent) successful businessman and priest. After tomorrow, he will wear the hat of retiree.
"It's nice to retire after so many years," Lettre said. "It's nice to have been here and to have my first experience as a pastor here. Now it's time in my life for me to slow down and take time to smell the roses."
Lettre, 72, was called "Father" long before he entered the priesthood in midlife. His 28-year marriage to Marjorie Mary produced four sons and a daughter. From those children came 12 grandchildren.
Educated in Catholic schools, the young Raymond Lettre gave serious thought to becoming a priest. After high school he was drafted into the military and served from 1952 through 1954 in Korea and Japan. He met Marjorie Mary LaPointe, and they married while on leave in 1953.
"It's one of those things that happens when you meet the one that is meant to happen in your life," Lettre said.
The couple began a small business in their garage, which later became a television and computer center that flourished for 28 years.
Lettre's wife suffered a 12-year illness. In 1980 she became critically ill. On her deathbed, Marjorie Mary asked her husband if he would return to the seminary and become a priest.
"Only God knows," he told her.
An account written by parishioner Norma Rourke for Lettre's retirement chronicles the priest's decision:
"Always believing in perseverance and that everything is possible with the Lord,' he made his decision to do just that," she writes, "turning over the business to his five children and embarking on a new career, which at the age of 50 was no small task.
"Thus began the years of preparation for the priesthood, including three and a half years of study at the Eckerd College Seminary, St. Petersburg, Fla., followed by St. Vincent dePaul Seminary in Boynton Beach, Florida, the Sacred Heart School of Theology in Hales Corner, Wisconsin, a summer of pastoral internship at St. Ignatius Parish in Tarpon Springs, Florida, and one year of pastoral studies in Spokane, Washington, at the Gonzaga University and the Jesuit-run Mater Dei Institute for Priestly Formation, one of four training facilities for older men aspiring to the priesthood.
"Always encouraged by his children, as well as his beloved uncle, Monsignor Achille Lettre, and three aunts who were nuns, he was ordained at the Cathedral of St. Jude, St. Petersburg on May 21, 1988 by Bishop W. Thomas Larkin. On the following day, he celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving at the Light of Christ Catholic Church in Clearwater," Rourke wrote.
Lettre first ministered in the Spring Hill, Tampa, and New Port Richey area. His first assignment as a pastor began at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton four years ago.
"The people of St. Elizabeth's have admired Father Lettre for his kindness his humility, his perseverance, deep love and trust in God, and the special care he employs for the sick and the homebound" Rourke wrote. "He was instrumental in establishing the computer lab at the Pope John Paul II Catholic School in Lecanto, and initiating basic and advanced computer training for senior members of the parish. He has been a staunch advocate of improving the religious education program for the children, remodeling the church sanctuary and tending to other much-needed improvements in the parish."
Having worn so many hats in his life helped him be a better priest, Lettre said.
"I can reach the people better and come down to where we all come together, where we talk one on one," he said. "I had a married life. I was a successful businessman. Oh gosh, I'm so thankful to God for what he's done. I don't know how I deserved it, but he gave me so much. I've been blessed by God in so many ways."
Lettre will retire to Weeki Wachee, where he has a home, and will enjoy spending more time with his family, he said. He will also continue to minister.
"I'm just retiring from the administration of it," Lettre said. "I'm giving up the headaches of administration while still keeping the satisfying aspects of my priestly ministry. Now I get to do the good stuff all the time. By that I mean saying Mass, hearing confession, anointing the sick, burying the dead, ministering to the bereaved, counseling the troubled, tying the marriage knot for couples. I'll be doing all that in this diocese somewhere. I know I have some other things God wants me to do that he hasn't told me yet."
Lettre was asked what he hopes his parishioners have learned from him.
"When I was at seminary, I had gone from being a doer in the business world to becoming a thinker," he said. "It was close to the end and I was having a problem with the education because at age 50 it's pretty hard to go. I went to see the priest that was a psychologist and he said, 'I think I know what's wrong. You're trying too hard. Learn to let go and let God take over in your life.' Ever since then I've done that. I try to stress to the people in our parish to let go. Sometimes they've been carrying baggage for so many years. Let go and let God take over and come together as a people of love and share his love.
"What I'm trying to do is unite the whole parish here. It's been fun. I enjoyed it. I'll miss them. Like they say, I leave them my peace."
A farewell reception for Lettre, sponsored by the Women's Guild and the Men's Association of the parish, will be held in the Parish Center following the 11 a.m. Mass Sunday.