Bishop Andre L. Gregoire was born in Woonsocket, Rhode
Island, the fourth of six sons of Arthur & Aurore Gregoire. He was educated
in area schools, attended the Oblate Seminary in Bucksport Maine, and graduated
from Mount St. Charles Academy. He obtained an Associate in Science degree in
Business from Rhode Island Junior College, a Bachelors of Science Degree in
Public Administration from Roger Williams College, Bristol, RI, and a Masters of
Science in Managerial Technology from Johnson and Wales Graduate School.
Rev. Gregoire was a Firefighter and EMT-C, a 18-year veteran of the Woonsocket
Fire Department and was retired on disability August 27, 1987. In 1974 He was
ordained minister by the laying of hands by the New England Ecumenical Union,
meeting in Boston, MA. He was Executive Director and Minister of Emmaus Ministry
that he founded as a non-denominational ministry. In September 2005, Rev.
Gregoire was incardinated and merged Emmaus Ministry in the Reformed catholic
Church International. He was elected by his peers to the Episcopate at the 2006
Spring Synod and consecrated Bishop at Unity Church, North Easton, MA on October
29, 2006. He was appointed Vicar-General of the order on his consecration. Rev.
Gregoire is a member of the International Chaplains Association as well as the
United States Chaplains Corp. Rev. Gregoire serves on the Board of Directors for
the Church of Interfaith Christians based in Douglas Georgia.
Rev. Gregoire
is also founder and president of RISC LLC, a safety consulting firm to various
commercial insurance companies..
Rev. Gregoire served as adjunct faculty from 1984-1997 in the business
department of the Community College of Rhode Island, Fisher College, Boston, MA,
Roger Williams College, Bristol, RI, Bryant
College, Smithfield, RI, and Johnson & Wales Graduate School. Rev. Gregoire
was also an Associate of Menard's Funeral Home, Carrington Ave, Woonsocket, RI
for 10 years.
Rev. Gregoire has greatly participated in fraternal organizations. He is a Past
Noble Grand of Granite lodge, Oddfellows in Pascoag Rhode Island. He was raised
a Master Mason in Netop Lodge, Seekonk, MA in 1984. He is presently a member
of Lafayette Lodge #47, F.&A.M., Cumberland RI, serving as Master in 1996-1998
and again in 2005, and presently its secretary. Rev. Gregoire was awarded the Grand Lodge Meritorious
Service Medal in 1999. He is an affiliate member of St; John Lodge #1 F.&A.M.,
Providence, RI. Past High Priest of Union Royal Arch Chapter #5,
Woonsocket, Past Thrice Illustrious Master of Woonsocket Council of Royal and
Select Master Masons. He was nominated and received the Cryptic Mason of the
Year Award in 2000. He was Grand Marshal for the Most Illustrious Past
Grand Master Douglas E. Connell in 2004 and was the recipient of the Ish
Sodi Award. He served as Commander of Holy Sepulcher Commandery, Knights Templar,
Pawtucket, RI. And is an affiliate member of Cavalry Commandery Knights Templar
of East Providence. Was honored with the Knight York Cross of Honor in 2007. He
is a 32° Scottish Rite mason, and is a Past Sovereign Prince of The Rhode Island Council Princes of
Jerusalem of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Valley of Providence, Northern
Jurisdiction and was recently named the Master of Ceremonies for the Rhode
Island Consistory. A member of the Royal Order of Scotland. He is a twice past Monarch of Moslem Grotto. He is a member of the Rhode
Island Shrine and was Lemon-Peel the clown for 10 years. He is a member of the
What Cheer York Rite College, and also Renaissance Council #429, Allied Masonic
Degree of which he is Chaplain, Swords of Bunker Hill, Knight Masons, and The
Masonic Veterans Association, and the secretary of
the Past Grand Marshal’s Association. He is a member of Woonsocket Order of
the Eastern Star, and an honorary member of Rainbow. Rev. Gregoire is presently
serving as the Grand Marshal for Brother Steven E. Smith, the Grand Master of
Masons of the Grand Lodge of the State of Rhode Island and Providence
Plantations.
Rev. Gregoire is also a member of Mended Hearts Chapter
#338, Landmark Hospital where he served as Newsletter Chair, receiving an
Honorable mention for best newsletter in its class at the 2007 Mended Hearts
Convention San Antonio, Texas.
