Wilfrid DesRosiers
Alleged Abuse: Diocese announced to parishioners that credible accusations had been made against DesRosier; the abuse was alleged to have happened in Rayne in the 1960s and 1970s.
Where is he now: Deceased
In 2002, then-Bishop Edward O’Donnell met with parishoners about 30-year-old allegations against a priest, Wilfrid DesRosiers.
The Bishop said that DesRosiers had been accused of sexually abusing children while pastor at the Shrine of Our Lady of Mercy in Rayne in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Four people accused him of sexual abuse; at the time of the alleged abuse they were children.
DesRosiers who was 84 at the time and living in a nursing home, denied the allegations. He died in 2012.
O’Donnell told parishoners that he had appointed a priest to help with the investigation, and stationed him at the Shrine’s rectory for several days. During that time, the priest would be available to hear from anyone who had additional allegations against DesRosiers, he said. He also said that police had been notified of the allegations.
Timeline:
1955: First Assistant at Corpus Christi, New Orleans
1956: Professor at College Saint Augustin, New Orleans
1957-1958: Assistant at Saint-Luc, Washington D.C.
1958-1961: Sainte-Famille, Lawtell
1961-1962: Saint-Redeemer, Washington D.C.
1962-1965: Saint-Francois-Xavier, Houston
1965: Saint-Pie-V, Baltimore
1965-1966: Saint Philippe, New Orleans
1966-1967: Saint-Francois-Xavier, Baltimore
1967-1972: Pastor at Mother of Mercy, Rayne
1973-1975: Asst. at Our Mother of Mercy, Beaumont
1975: Retired
2012: Deceased
