FR. FRANCISCO “Mendy” Mendoza, O.P., the oldest Dominican priest in the Philippines, was laid to rest on Monday, Jan. 4, at the Santuario de Santo Domingo in Quezon City.
Mendoza, a centenarian, died on New Year’s Day, according to Fr. Romulo Rodriguez, O.P., provincial secretary of the Dominican Province of the Philippines.
Mendoza entered the UST Central Seminary in 1938. He finished sacred theology at the Faculty of Sacred Theology in 1941 and earned his licentiate degree in canon law in 1951 at UST.
He was born on Sep. 17, 1920 in Guagua, Pampanga. He marked his 100th birthday last year.
Mendoza obtained his bachelor’s degree in philosophy at the San Carlos Seminary in 1939. He was ordained a diocesan priest at the Manila Cathedral in 1944, professed in the Dominican Order on Dec. 9, 1961 and made his solemn profession in 1964.
From 1961 to 1990, Mendoza was assigned to different Dominican communities in the Philippines: Santo Domingo Convent in Quezon City, Convent of St. John Lateran in Manila, Convent of the Most Holy Rosary in Iloilo and Convent of St. Raymond of Peñafort in Legazpi in Albay.
He was assigned to Bahay Dominiko in Quezon City in June 2000 until his death.
Mendoza was the spiritual director of the Guagua National Colleges in Pampanga.
The burial Mass for Mendoza was held on Jan. 5. with reports from Joenner Paulo L. Enriquez, O.P.
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