The 48-year-old priest who served as spiritual director to young Catholics at World Youth Day in Toronto last month is recovering from a mild stroke.

The Rev. Robert Vaillancourt was admitted to Northern Maine Medical Center in Fort Kent on Saturday night, according to Sue Bernard, spokeswoman for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland.

He was released from the hospital Tuesday and is expected to remain on medical leave with family in Lewiston, his hometown, until the end of August. Vaillancourt is expected to make a full recovery, Bernard said.

While his title on the Toronto trip was spiritual director, “Father Bob” also functioned as tour guide, cheerleader, water boy and dispenser of vital information to many of the 350 young people and their chaperones who went to see Pope John Paul II.

Vaillancourt was appointed pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Madawaska this spring after the Rev. John Audibert was removed amid allegations of sexual abuse of minors. Vaillancourt previously served at Holy Family Catholic Church in Old Town and St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Bridgton.

The Rev. Leopold Nicknair of Caribou, a retired priest, has been assigned to fill in for Vaillancourt during his medical leave.