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April 21, 2021Reverend Raymond P. Luft, 78, Pastor Emeritus of the former Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Providence, died Saturday, April 17, 2021.
Born in Providence, a son of the late Dr. Raymond and Sadye (Sweeney) Luft, he attended Norwood School, Warwick, and Saint Matthew School, Cranston. In preparation for the priesthood, he studied at Our Lady of Providence Seminary, Warwick, and at Saint Mary Seminary in Baltimore. He was ordained a priest on June 8, 1968 at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Providence by Bishop Russell J. McVinney.
Father Luft served as assistant pastor in the following parishes: Saint William, Warwick (1968-76); Blessed Sacrament, Providence (1976-81) and Saint Patrick, Valley Falls (1981-85).
In 1985, he was appointed pastor at Saint John Parish, Providence, and served there until 1991 when he was appointed pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Providence. Father Luft remained there for 21 years, retiring in 2012 as Pastor Emeritus.
In addition to his parish duties, Father Luft served as Deanery Vicar of Deanery #7; Chaplain of the Warwick Fire and Police Departments; Priest Prior of the Knights of Columbus Squires; Chaplain of the Providence Police Department; and as a member of the diocesan Council of Priests.
In his retirement, Father Luft lived at Saint John Vianney Residence, Providence, and resided there at the time of his death.
Visitation will be on Saturday, April 24, 2021, from 9 - 9:45am at Blessed Sacrament Church, Academy Avenue, Providence.
A Concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial for the repose of Father’s soul will be offered on Saturday, April 24, 2021, at 10am, at Blessed Sacrament Church.
Burial will be at a later date in Saint Ann Cemetery, Cranston.
