Donald Gilbert Obituary

On July 7, 2025, the Reverend Monsignor Donald J. Gilbert was called to his rest and to the glory of the Resurrection promised by the Lord. He was 84 years old.

Monsignor Gilbert was born on June 28, 1941 in Claremont, New Hampshire and was ordained a priest on May 18, 1968 by the Most Reverend Ernest J. Primeau, S.T.D., at Saint Joseph Cathedral in Manchester. Monsignor Gilbert studied at Saint Anselm College, and then completed his ecclesiastical studies at Saint John Seminary in Brighton, Massachusetts. In 1989 he earned his Licentiate in Canon Law (JCL) from Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. On February 14, 2013 he was named Prelate of Honor to His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI with the title of Monsignor.

Monsignor Gilbert served as associate pastor of Saint John the Evangelist Parish, Hudson and then served as temporary administrator of the parish. Monsignor Gilbert was then assigned as associate pastor of Saint Pius X Parish in Manchester and then served as temporary administrator of the parish. He was then assigned as associate pastor of Saint Jude Parish, Londonderry. In June 1980 he was named associate pastor of Saint Patrick, Nashua, and in 1984 served in weekend ministry at Saint Patrick Parish, Newport. In September 1989, Bishop Odore J. Gendron, D.D. appointed Monsignor Gilbert as Temporary Administrator of Saint Charles Borromeo Parish in Meredith. In November 1990, Bishop Leo E. O'Neil, D.D. appointed him Temporary Administrator of Saint Augustine Parish in Manchester. In September 1992 he served in weekend ministry at Sacred Heart Parish, Concord. In February 1995, Bishop Leo E. O'Neil appointed Monsignor Gilbert pastor of Saint Paul Parish and Mission in Candia. In June 1999, Bishop John B. McCormack appointed Monsignor Gilbert pastor of Saint Matthew Parish in Windham where he served faithfully until his retirement in June 2008.

In addition to his Pastoral Assignments, Monsignor Gilbert served the Diocesan Marriage Tribunal for over 45 years with his first appointment as Judge on December 18, 1975. He also served as Defender of the Bond and was named Associate Judicial Vicar of the Diocesan Marriage Tribunal in May 1981. In November 1983, he was reappointed Vice Officialis, Judge Auditor and Defender of the Bond. In November 1992 he was appointed Judicial Vicar.

In addition to his work in the Diocesan Tribunal, Monsignor Gilbert also served as Diocesan Spiritual Director of RENCONTRE and attended the Fall 1986 Institute for Continuing Theological Education at North American College in Rome, Italy. He received the Papal Assistant honor in April of 1990. He was also on the Luncheon Committee for the Ordination to the Office of Bishop for Bishop Francis J. Christian in 1996. In 2003 he was appointed to the Diocesan Review Board where he served two 5-year terms.

During his retirement, Monsignor Gilbert remained actively engaged in parish ministry primarily at Saint Mark the Evangelist Parish, Londonderry, together with continued part-time ministry in the Diocesan Marriage Tribunal.

On Thursday, July 10, 2025 Monsignor Gilbert will lie in repose at Saint Matthew Church, 2 Searles Road, Windham from 9:00a.m. to 10:45a.m. The Most Reverend Peter A. Libasci, Bishop of Manchester, will preside at a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Matthew Church on Thursday, July 10, 2025 at 11:00a.m. The Rite of Committal will be celebrated on Friday, July 11, 2025 at 10:00a.m. at St. Mary Cemetery in Claremont, New Hampshire. The Peabody Funeral Home at 15 Birch Street, Derry, New Hampshire has care of the arrangements.