He had only one assignment as a priest of the archdiocese, parochial vicar at St. Bridget Parish, Abington (2008-2011). His ministerial service stretched much further, back to 1988, when he was ordained a deacon, a member of the permanent deacon class ordained at Holy Cross Cathedral by Bernard Cardinal Law on May 21, 1988.

He was born in Swansea on Oct. 13, 1946, the only child of the late Joseph and Elizabeth (Porter) Arsenault. His family were members of St. Michael Parish there, and he attended the parish school and then local public schools, including the Gardner School, Elizabeth Brown Junior High School, and Joseph Case High School, all in his hometown.

He was an alumnus of Boston College, receiving the AB degree in 1969 and a master's degree in psychology from Assumption College in Worcester. He always sensed a vocation to the priesthood, initially with Marists. Then, after a few years after college teaching on the high school level, he taught at St. John Seminary prior to his entrance to Pope St. John XXIII Seminary for his much "delayed" response to a call to the priesthood.

As permanent deacon, he served in several parishes and ministries: St. Thomas the Apostle, Millis; St. James, Stoughton; Sacred Heart, Middleborough; and St. Francis of Assisi, Braintree. He was also involved in prison ministry at MCI-Cedar Junction, Southeastern Correctional Center, and Old Colony Correctional Center.

Cardinal Seán P. O'Malley ordained him a priest on May 24, 2008, 20 years and two days after he had been ordained a deacon.

His only priestly assignment at St. Bridget, Abington, was for him a very happy experience. He arrived at age 61 and served until his retirement because of health issues in 2011. He remained as a senior priest in residence there.

He had received a kidney transplant some years ago and his kidneys began to fail several months ago and there was no solution to the problem. He died at Regina Cleri Residence, where he had been living on May 28, 2026. He was 79.

His funeral Mass was scheduled for June 3, 2026, at St. Bridget Church, Abington. Committal services were private.