On Friday, October 30th, 2026, Jay A. Jolicoeur was installed as the 84th Grand High Priest of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Massachusetts.
The Grand High Priest has the responsibility to ensure that the activities of the thirty local Chapters and the several thousand Capitular Masons obey the Constitution and Digests of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter, that their work is performed according to tradition and that the charitable aims of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter are fulfilled.
Jay was born in Troy, New York, lived there his first 6 months, then spent the next 11 years living in various US states, England and Germany while his family traveled with his US Navy father. After the family settled in Holden, MA, he attended schools in the area, ultimately graduating from Holy Cross College in Worcester, MA. Through his life-long association with the Boy Scouts, he earned his Eagle Scout Rank, worked at Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, NM and landed his first job as a District Executive in Bakersfield, CA. An interest sparked at Holy Cross College led him to the software development field in which he made his career, owning his own software consulting business for 30 years before assuming his present position as a Principal Software Architect at a construction firm. Having no previous Masonic connection, he was first introduced to the craft by volunteer Scouting associates in Bakersfield. It was thru his father-in-law, Lawrence Nack, that he joined Rufus Putnam Lodge in Rutland, MA in 1981, eventually serving as Worshipful Master several times and becoming its secretary in 2002, a position which he still holds. In 2010, while serving as Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, he co-founded, is a charter member and was the first Worshipful Master of The Scouters Lodge in Holden; the members of which are all Eagle Scouts or have been recognized for significant contributions to the Boy Scouts as adult leaders. He is also an affiliate member of Columbian Lodge in Boston, The Masters Lodge in Needham and Hope Lodge in Gardner. He received the Joseph Warren Distinguished Service Medal in 2009, The Henry Price Medal in 2010 and the Master Builder’s Award.
He joined the Worcester Lodge of Perfection, Goddard Council Princes of Jerusalem and Lawrence Chapter Rose Croix of the Scottish Rite Valley of Worcester in 1983. That same year he also joined the Massachusetts Consistory in the Valley of Boston. In 1999 he joined Aleppo Shrine and became a member of The Minutemen ceremonial unit for several years. It wasn’t until 2009 that he started his York Rite journey when he joined Eureka Royal Arch Chapter, Hiram Council of Royal and Select Master Masons and Worcester County Commandery #5. He served as High Priest of Eureka Chapter from 2016 to 2018, is a member of the Massachusetts Convention of High Priests and received the Benjamin Hurd Award. He began his service to the Grand Royal Arch Chapter when he was appointed to the Grand Chapter Exemplification Degree Team in 2011. In 2022 he was appointed District Deputy Grand High Priest and then served as Grand King in 2024. He was appointed a Grand Lecturer in 2025.
In Hiram Council, he served as Illustrious Master 2020 to 2022, is a member of the Massachusetts Council of Thrice Illustrious Masters and received the Blake Baily Award. In Worcester County Commandery #5, he served as Eminent Commander 2022 to 2024. He is a member of Mayflower York Rite College and Massachusetts Priory #52 K.Y.C.H. In the community he has been active in the Boy Scouts as a Scoutmaster for 3 separate troops in Holden, Princeton and Worcester and is currently a Unit Commissioner for the Heart of New England Council. He has coached youth soccer, basketball, baseball and softball for the teams his children played on. He is an active soccer referee, working at the youth level locally and regionally, High School and College, for over 30 years.
Jay has been married to Pamela for 46 years. They have 2 children, Adam and Brittany, and 3 grandchildren. They continue to live in Holden, MA and spend time in Clermont, FL with their daughter and her family.
