Fr. Romeo Villanueva, OMI dies

COTABATO CITY -- The Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) is now morning the demise of Fr. Romeo Villanueva at 6:58 a.m. Friday at St. Luke's Hospital in Quezon City. He was 78 years old. It is with saddest regret that I announce the death of our brother Fr. Romeo Villanueva, OMI at 6.58 am at St. Luke's Hospital in Quezon City, Brother Noel P. Garcia, OMI, said in statement.Fr. Villanueva succumbed to pancreatic cancer and had been in the hospital the past few weeks.On April 16, Saturday,Fr. Romy left a hospital where he has been confined due to cancer and celebrated mass with fellow Oblates of Mary Immaculate priests, friends and family members.He presidedover a mass to celebrate his 50th Sacerdotal Jubilee at the Birhen ng Lourdes Parish in Bagong Barrio, Caloocan City.Bro. Garcia said Fr. Romy'swake will be at the Birhen ng Lourdes Parish in Bagong Barrio, Caloocan City until Sunday when his remains will be flown to Cotabato airport on May 2, Monday. His body will lie in state at the Grotto Auditorium, in Tamontaka, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao. Funeral mass is scheduled at 8.30 am May 3, 2016 and burial at the OMI cemetery also in Tamontaka. sand//scontent.fmnl4-5.fna.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/12961637_10207313243292917_3699818987815620412_n.jpg?oh=4bb0127ce5d5919c3d87198be0f44446andampoe=577A5821 R elatives of Fr. Romeo Villanueva, OMI visited him on his 50th anniversary celebration as priest. The OMI website saidFr. Romy was born on March 14, 1938 in Cabatuan, Iloilo. He had an itinerant schooling.Romy studied at Cabatuan Public School for his primary grade Roosevelt Memorial High School in San Juan, Rizal for his elementary education and Notre Dame of Marbel, Koronadal, South Cotabato for his secondary education.After high school, he pursued an Agricultural Engineering course at the Araneta University in Malabon City. After a year of engineering studies, he entered the Oblate Juniorate Seminary in Quezon City.Romy was sent to Mission, Texas for his Novitiate. After novitiate, he came back home to do Philosophy and Theology at the San Jose Seminary in Quezon City and at the Loyola House of Studies. He was ordained priest on April 14, 1966 in Cotabato City. Villy,” as he is also called, wanted to become a priest when he was small but he lost interest while growing up. His grandmother, father and mother have influenced him in his life. He had few obstacles in becoming a priest.He early influences in his Oblate vocation were the examples and work of two Irish OMIs - Frs. Peter Moriarty and Andy Horgan.For Oblate missionary spirit, Romy draws inspiration from another veteran missionary, Fr. Emile Bolduc. To him, Fr. Boldhuc was an example of priestly life that was the most lovable and inspiring – he was always there to welcome and be of help without any judgment whatsoever.”Romy has many assignments that will fill pages.He is well remembered in places like Alamada, Kidapawan, Magpet, Bagong Barrio in Caloocan City, Midsayap and the vicariate of Jolo.During the martial law years, Fr. Villanueva was identified with the ‘radical’ Oblates that opposed the dictator and cried for justice and freedom.Prior to his hospitalization, Fr. Villanueva was stationed in Jolo.It was no accident that his present ministry was in Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation for the Vicariate of Jolo.He will always beam with joy when he speaks of justice, peace and dialogue in the Vicariate known also as the home of the Abu Sayyaf Groups.