Father Bernard "Bud" Welch served as a Navy Chaplain at the Brunswick Naval Air Station

My husband Richard and I knew Father Welch when he was serving as a Navy Chaplain at the Brunswick Naval Air Station base chapel, before it was closed. He was very welcoming to everyone. My husband joked with him about his having so many years serving in the military, but yet he was only a full Lieutenant. Father Welch was so funny, he responded with, "Yes, but I am a 'senior' Lieutenant!".  A humerous concept, something only people in the Navy would get. 

My husband is a retired Master Chief Petty Officer. He could get away with this kind of "rank joke", because Master Chief Petty Officers are often expected to give junior officers a hard time!  Haha. 

Rest in Peace:  Rev. Bernard “Bud” Welch passed away late in the day on Tuesday, May 14th, 2024, at Coastal Landing in Brunswick ME. Fr. Welch was ordained to the priesthood on May 2, 1981. He would have celebrated his 90th birthday on May 18th. A retired U.S. Air Force member, Fr. Welch served a critical role in our parish during the time that we clustered.

The reception of the body will be held at the Saint John the Baptist Church from 4 - 7 pm on Tuesday, May 28, 2024. The Mass of Christian Burial will be at Saint John the Baptist Church in Brunswick on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, at 10 am. Bishop James Ruggieri will be the principal presider. Burial with military honors will follow the funeral at Saint John the Baptist Cemetery and a reception will be at St. Charles Borromeo Church.

Many thanks to the parishioners and staff members who stayed with Fr. Welch during his time in hospice and especially in his last hours with us. We will continue to keep Fr. Bud in our prayers; may he rest in eternal peace. Well done, good and faithful servant.

BRUNSWICK/HARPSWELL- Reverend Bernard J. “Bud” Welch, 89, four days shy of his 90th birthday, of Brunswick and Harpswell passed away on May 14, 2024, at Horizon’s Living and Rehabilitation Center. 

Father Welch was born May 18, 1934, in Portland, Maine. He is the son of Margaret Mary (O’Donnell) Welch Woods and stepson of Owen Francis Woods. He attended St. Louis’ Home for the boys in Scarborough, Saint Dominic’s Grammar School in Portland and was a 1952 graduate of Cheverus High School. Fr. Welch received his bachelor’s degree in history and government from the University of Maine in 1961, A master’s degree in Legislative Affairs from the George Washington University in Washington, D.C. In 1976 a Master of Divinity Degree from the Pope Saint John XXIII Seminary in Weston, MA. In 1981 Fr. Welch worked at the Central Intelligence Agency as an Analyst, at Pan American World Airways as the manager of Public Affairs and with the United States Secretary of Transportation as his aviation Congressional Relations Officer, all these work positions were located in Washington, D.C. Fr. Welch entered the seminary where he was ordained a Priest for the Diocese of Portland, Maine in 1981. His priestly assignments were at St. Joseph Parish in Lewiston, The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland, Holy Rosary Parish in Caribou, where he also served as a contract Chaplain at Loring Air Force Base, and served as Pastor at Sacred Heart Parish in Lubec, where he also served at Saint Timothy Parish, Campobello Island, Canada. Fr. Welch retired after 28 years of active and reserve military service in the United States Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard. Fr. Welch is survived by two stepbrothers Owen Francis Woods, II of Portland and James Edward Woods of South Portland, two stepsisters Catherine Ann (Woods) Bean and Margaret Mary (Woods) Viola both of South Portland. His devoted and loyal friends John and Saundra Bouchard, Pat and Gary Cornwell. There will be a reception of the body and evening prayer for Fr. Welch on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, at 4:00 PM in St. John the Baptist Church- All Saints Parish, 39 Pleasant Street, Brunswick, Rev. Philip Tracy presiding. Fr. Welch’s visitation will continue till 7:00 PM in the Church. A concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Wednesday, May 29, 2024, at 10:00 AM in St. John the Baptist Church, Most Reverend James Ruggieri, Bishop of Portland, principal celebrant. Burial will follow with military honors at St. John the Baptist Cemetery, Brunswick. In lieu of flowers donations in Fr. Welch’s memory may be made to All Saints Parish, 132 McKeen Street, Brunswick, Maine, 04011.