06/09/2026
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๐. ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia mourns the passing of Rev. Fr. Roque C. Reyes, who returned to the Fatherโs House on September 3, 2026. He was 75 years old.
Born on the Feast of St. Roch, August 16, 1951, in Vigan, Ilocos Sur, Fr. Roque was deeply rooted in both faith and Ilocano heritage. He was the son of David Singson Reyes and Juliana Quirino Catriz, and a brother to David, Jr., Victor, Mario, Ma. Corazon, Mary Grace, and Michele Ann. Growing up in a home beneath the shadow of the Vigan Cathedral, he heard early the call to serve the Lord and His people.
He was formed in the cradle of the Archdiocese itself. He spent his elementary years at Rosary College (now St. Paul College of Ilocos Sur) in Vigan (1956โ1961), his intermediate years at the College of the Immaculate Conception, now Divine Word College of Vigan, Inc. (1963), his high school years at the Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary (1968), and his college years at the Immaculate Conception Major Seminary, now Immaculate Conception School of Theology (1971). He pursued his theological studies at the UST Central Seminary in Manila.
His love for learning brought him to Rome, to the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinasโthe Angelicum, where he earned his Licentiate in Sacred Theology in History (1981), and later to St. Louis University in Baguio (1989). Throughout his lifetime, he gathered academic laurels rarely equaled by a diocesan priest: BSE, AB Philosophy, STB, STL in History, SThD in Spirituality, MA, and PhD.
On March 24, 1975, at the St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral in Vigan City, he knelt before Most Rev. Juan C. Sison, D.D., and was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Nueva Segoviaโa proud member of the Ordination Class of 1975.
His priesthood was a pilgrimage of service. He began as Parochial Vicar of St. John of Sahagun Parish in Candon, Ilocos Sur, in 1975, then briefly served at St. Mark the Evangelist Parish in Cabugao in 1976, and at Immaculate Conception Parish in Sta. Cruz, where he also served as School Director of Sta. Cruz Institute from 1976 to 1977.
After a short stint at St. Augustine Parish in Bantay in 1978, he was sent for further studies and resided at the Pontificio Collegio Filippino in Rome from 1978 to 1981. Upon his return, he served the Filipino community abroad as Parochial Vicar of St. Matthew Church in Dix Hills, New York, from 1982 to 1983.
The seminary was his second home. From 1983 to 1989, he served as Procurator, Vice-Rector, and Professor at San Pablo Seminary in Baguio City, helping form generations of future priests. He again served in the United States as Parochial Vicar of Sacred Heart Church in Staten Island, New York, from 1989 to 1993.
It was in the fields of heritage and education that his heart found one of its deepest missions. From 1993 to May 31, 2000, he served as Archivist and Curator of Museo Nueva Segovia at the Archbishopโs Residence in Vigan. From 1996 to 2000, he also served as Superintendent of the Nueva Segovia Archdiocesan Catholic Schools (NUSACS). While carrying out these responsibilities, he served as Episcopal Vicar of St. Lorenzo Vicariate from June 1999 to May 2000.
He was a pastor who truly knew his flock. He served as Parish Priest of Our Lady of the Assumption Parish in Sta. Maria, Ilocos Surโnow the Minor Basilicaโfrom June 1, 2000, to May 31, 2006, and concurrently as Episcopal Vicar of Our Lady of the Assumption Vicariate.
From 2006 to 2012, he was called to shepherd his home parish, St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral in Vigan City, as Parish Priest and Episcopal Vicar of St. Paul Vicariate. He then served as Parish Priest of St. Vincent Ferrer Parish in San Vicente from 2012 to 2018, and as Parish Priest of St. Ildephonse Parish in San Ildefonso from 2018 until his retirement on August 30, 2021.
From then until his death, he resided in quiet retirement in Vigan City.
Apo Rory was not only a priest; he was also a guardian of culture. His work in cultural preservation was recognized with the Guhit Award for Culture Preservation by Design & Architecture Magazine in Manila in 1996, and the St. Thomas Aquinas Jubilee Award for Cultural Heritage Work by the UST Central Seminary in 2003.
Through the years, Apo Rory faithfully offered his life in service of God and His people. His gentle presence, wisdom, and unwavering faith touched countless lives.
As we remember him, may we also remember the faith he shared, the lives he touched, and the love with which he served.
He finished his course. He kept the faith.
๐จ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐, ๐จ๐๐ ๐น๐๐๐.
๐จ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐
๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐จ๐ท๐ถ.
May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ
๐น๐ฌ๐ฝ. ๐ญ๐น. ๐น๐ถ๐ธ๐ผ๐ฌ โ๐น๐ถ๐น๐โ ๐ช. ๐น๐ฌ๐๐ฌ๐บ
๐๐พ๐ฐ๐พ๐ผ๐ฝ 16, 1951 โ ๐ข๐ฎ๐น๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ซ๐ฎ๐ป 3, 2026
Former Rector and Parish Priest
Metropolitan Cathedral and Parish of the Conversion of St. Paul
