Xavier community pays respects to Father Victor Laroche, O.P. 

By Jayla Renter 

Contributor 

Photos by Veronica Farve/courtesy Xavier Yearbook 

In honor of a well-respected pillar of the New Orleans community, Xavier hosted a vigil service in memory of Father Victor Laroche, O.P., at the St. Katherine Drexel Chapel on Jan. 27, 2026. Known for his comforting presence on Xavier’s campus and his dedication to leading a Christ-like life, those impacted by Laroche’s love for others attended the service. Students, colleagues, friends, family, and administrators gathered in prayer and remembrance of his service to the university. 

“Victor got called home as he has done his work,” said Xavier’s President Dr. Reynold Verret. “He was being the hand of Christ, wherever he went, whether it was in the cafeteria, or around the hall, or in the bookstore,” Verret added at the vigil. 

The Port-au-Prince native was exceedingly proud of his Dominican heritage while also encouraging inclusivity. As a gifted linguist, he made a point to connect with every person he encountered using English, French, Haitian Creole, and Spanish. Upon arriving in New Orleans, Father Laroche surrounded himself with his brothers in the Catholic church, who said they will continue to uplift and engage spirits in Christ since his sudden departure.  

“I’m still digesting it, but I do feel his spirit,” said Brother Herman Johnson, O.P., a Dominican friar and professor of Spanish at Xavier. “I feel him encouraging me to be joyful and to dance,” Johnson said. 

Father Laroche had a large family both through blood and connected by faith. Johnson said that after living with someone for six years, they become a part of your family. His family members gathered the strength to speak to mourners after hearing the deep connections Father Laroche made in his lifetime. 

“On behalf of the family, thank you all,” said Paul Laroche, the brother of Father Victor Laroche. “I never saw my life without him, and I never conceptualized life without him,” Paul said, reflecting on the lifetime they spent together since birth. 

While Father Laroche’s reach began in Haiti, fostered by the love of his family, it extended to the United States with his migration. In 2022, he joined Xavier University’s Campus Ministry, allowing him to narrow his focus to college students.  

“I didn’t know a Xavier without Father Victor,” said Darryllynn Sabbath, a piano performance major, and senior at Xavier from Shreveport, La. He has been a recipient of Father Laroche’s support since his first year in 2022. 

The impact he made on students’ lives was instant, they said. Daily messages of affirmation, spontaneous blessings, and beautiful flowers were tokens he shared to students and those they said they will miss now that he is gone. 

“Father Victor, get up, please,” said Evania Warner, a psychological science major, and sophomore at Xavier from Houston, Texas. “We love you so much,” Warner added towards the end of her speech, expressing her gratitude for the imprint he left on her and her friends’ souls.