Fr. Ray Tetrault, organizer and activist, dies at age 88

Early advocate for immigrants and relentless fighter for the poor

By Will Collette

Cathy and I first met Ray Tetrault almost exactly 50 years ago when we walked a picket line in front of a Providence Almacs to support the United Farm Workers lettuce boycott. The UFW had just launched the lettuce boycott after the successful grape boycott forced growers across California to recognize the union and sign contracts.

It was a lively picket and I remember Ray taking his turn with the megaphone, calling out the chants and songs. Over the next decade, I saw Ray frequently at planning meetings, events and of course on the picket line.

Ray Tetrault grew up in South Providence near St. Michael’s Church and was one of a large cadre of activist priest, nuns and brothers, some in the church and some, like Ray’s friend Henry Shelton, expelled from holy orders.

In those days, many Catholics believed in what was then called “liberation theology,” a principle that grew out of Pope John XXIII’s Vatican II conference that the church had the duty to stand with the poor and oppressed. Imagine for a moment, the political philosophy of Bishop Thomas Tobin. Now think of the exact opposite, and there you have Ray.

I wasn’t a Catholic, though I worked for the Catholic Church’s Community Affairs office on strategic campaigns in the 1970s. But you didn’t need to be a Catholic to admire and respect Ray and his colleagues, including Henry Shelton, Sr. Adelaide Canelas (her specialty was organizing Portuguese immigrants), Fr. Jim Ford and many others.

Ray’s particular contribution was to recognize the needs and potential of the growing number of Spanish immigrants. He was the first priest in Rhode Island to say the Mass in Spanish. I remember Ray and Sr. Canelas working a tandem act at large events, each with a bullhorn to translate English speeches into Spanish and Portuguese respectively.

One of the hallmarks of great activists is their devotion to developing new leadership and inspiring others to stand up and fight for their rights. Ray was as good as the best organizers at doing just that within the immigrant community, as the Providence Journal article on his passing shows in detail.

His legacy lives on in the actions of the generations of people he inspired.

UPDATED: Henry Shelton, hero for social justice, has died.

UPDATED: Fighter for the poor, mentor to generations of activists, dies at age 86
By Will Collette



One of Rhode Island's greatest organizers and activists for social and economic justice, Henry Shelton, died after a long illness but after a much longer life of being an inspiration to generations of Rhode Islanders.

I first met Henry while finishing up my studies at Rhode Island College at picket lines Henry organized to support the grape and lettuce boycotts called for by striking United Farm Workers. Then later, I had the honor of working with Henry in coalitions fighting for welfare and health care rights.

Nearly every organizer I knew from the 1970s to the present who ever worked in or passed through Rhode Island knew and admired Henry as one of the most passionate, hard-working champions for social justice. He was the most genuine person you could imagine, never content to be satisfied with just a half-measure of justice or a slow step forward toward progress.

Though the years took their toll and Henry could no long fire up the crowd - usually from the back of the room - he nonetheless devoted every last measure to the cause of justice for the poor.

Henry will be sorely missed.

Keep reading for Rep. Jim Langevin's statement.