Father Richard A. Jakubauskas, 78

Father Richard A. Jakubauskas, 78, of Shrewsbury, a retired priest of the Diocese of Worcester, died Wednesday, June 9, in UMass Memorial Medical Center, University Campus.
Father Jakubauskas was born in Kaunas, Lithuania, on Nov. 29, 1943, a son of Leopold and Eugenia (Mironcikas) Jakubauskas. His family of five had to flee their home when he was 6 months old because it was becoming a war zone during World War II. The family fled to Germany and was taken in by the U.S. Army. They immigrated to America in 1949.
Father Jakubauskas graduated from Sacred Heart Elementary School and from St. Peter High School, Worcester in 1961. He was inducted into the athletic hall of fame at St. Peter’s. He went on to graduate from Worcester Junior College and Clark University in 1966. He served in the U.S. Army Reserve with 373rd General Hospital.
He went to graduate school at Assumption College and earned a master’s degree in 1968 and certificate of advanced studies in psychology and counseling in 1972.
He worked as a psychologist in human services and as an advertising representative at The Catholic Free Press. He attended Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary in Weston to prepare for the priesthood and received a master of divinity degree in 1999.
 
He was ordained by Bishop Daniel P. Reilly on June 5, 1999, at St. Paul Cathedral.
“As a priest I want to be a channel of Jesus’ love, letting him work through me, so I can help people as a bridge get closer to God,” he said at the time of his ordination.
 
Following ordination, he was assigned as associate pastor of St. Cecilia Parish, Leominster. In June 2001, he was appointed pastor of St. Casimir Church, Worcester. He also worked as an on-call chaplain at UMass Memorial Medical Center hospitals. In July 2008, he was assigned to St. John Church, Worcester, as chaplain of the Lithuanian community. In July 2009, he became pastor of Our Lady Immaculate Parish and St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Athol, St. Peter Parish, Petersham and Our Lady Queen of Heaven Mission, Royalston. He was also fire chaplain of the Athol Fire Department. In 2012 he was named associate pastor to St. Joan of Arc and St. Peter parishes in Worcester, and assistant chaplain at UMass Memorial hospitals.
In July 2014, he was appointed administrator of St. Joseph Church, North Brookfield, and St. John the Baptist Church, East Brookfield and in 2016 was appointed pastor. He was chaplain of the Knights of Columbus.
He served on the Diocesan Priests’ Salary Committee and on the Diocesan Expansion Fund Board.
He retired in October 2020 due to health reasons and lived at the Southgate at Shrewsbury residence in Shrewsbury. He continued to assist St. Joseph’s and St. John the Baptist parishes part time after retirement. Father Jakubauskas leaves two brothers: Henry and wife Dalia, and four nieces, Dalia, Laura, Regina and Audrey; and Raymond and his wife Teresa, and nieces Vilia and Rima; and relatives in Lithuania. Calling hours will be from 3 to 6 p.m., Thursday, June 16, in Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Sacred Heart–St. Catherine of Sweden Parish, 600 Cambridge St., Worcester. A vigil service will be held at 6 p.m.
A concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, June 17, in Sacred Heart of Jesus Church. Bishop McManus will be the principal celebrant. Burial will follow in Notre Dame Cemetery, Worcester.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Priests’ Retirement Fund, Diocese of Worcester, 49 Elm St., Worcester, MA, 01609 or to St. Joseph Church and St. John the Baptist Church, c/o 28 Mt. Pleasant St., North Brookfield, MA, 01535. Dirsa–Morin Funeral Home, 298 Grafton St., Worcester, is directing arrangements.