August 5, 2016
This is to inform you that BRO. DEOGRACIAS P. TRINIDAD, S. J. died August 5 in the Jesuit Health and Wellness Center, AdMU Campus, Q.C. Bro. Deo, 89, entered the Society on 1 February 1951 and pronounced final vows on 2 February 1962. He had been comatose after suffering a stroke in May.
Wake: The wake begins August 6 in the Jesuit Health and Wellness Center, with wake Mass there this evening at 8 p.m. On August 7, the body will be transferred to the Oratory of St. Ignatius, Loyola House of Studies for the Sunday evening wake Mass.
Funeral Mass: On Monday, 8 August at 8 a.m. in the Oratory of St. Ignatius, LHS.
Interment: Sacred Heart Novitiate Jesuit Cemetery, right after the Funeral Mass.
Requiescat in pace.
BIOGRAPHY OF BR. DEOGRACIAS P. TRINIDAD, SJ
By Sch. Amado T. Tumbali, Jr., SJ
Asst. Province Archivist
Bro. Deogracias Perez Trinidad, S.J. was born on 22 March 1927 in Navotas where he also finished primary education at Navotas Elementary School in 1934. World War II delayed his secondary education at Torres High School in Tondo where he graduated in 1948. For two years, he took violin lessons and served as police guard at the army pier.
He was one of the 33 men who entered the Jesuits at Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches in 1951. Some of them are still alive: Bishop Honesto Pacana, Frs. Jose Bacatan, Francisco Mallari, and Raymund Miller. Bro. Deo entered on 1 February.
After first perpetual vows, he remained in the novitiate from 1953-1959 as custodian of the laundry and poultry; he was also porter and cook. In 1958, he took special studies in practical nursing. He immediately applied this skill as infirmarian at the Jesuit Residence, Ateneo de Manila in 1959-1960. In 1961, he did tertianship under Fr. James Gordon Koller at Sacred Heart Novitiate. In 1962, he was assigned to Berchmans College, Cebu City as custodian of kitchen and dining rooms, and infirmarian. There, he professed final vows on 2 February 1962. He belonged to the pioneer members of Loyola House of Studies where he was infirmarian and assistant minister.
In 1966 was sent to Xavier University, Cagayan de Oro City as custodian, assistant school director, and agriculturist. In 1967, while residing at Calamian parish, Cagayan de Oro City, he was the assistant to Fr. Arthur Shea, the district superior. In 1968, he was moved to Wao, Lanao del Sur. In 1969, he studied Agriculture at Central Mindanao University and Agronomy at Xavier University in 1973. After his studies in 1976, he served as minister of the Jesuit Residence, Xavier University. In 1978, he was at the Jesuit Retreat House, Impalambong, Bukidnon as assistant to Fr. Arsenio Jesena, director of the Social Action Center of the Prelature of Bukidnon. In 1980, he was assigned again to the novitiate as assistant administrator and custodian to agriculture and animals. Except for a brief stint at the Jesuit Residence, Ateneo de Manila, in 1986-1988, Bro. Deo was in the novitiate until his assignment as director of physical plant at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary, Cagayan de Oro City in 1996. After 5 years, in 2001, he served as assistant to Fr. Rafael Borromeo, director of Jesuit Retreat House in Bukidnon. Bro. Deo’s final assignment prior to his retirement at Lucas Infirmary, Loyola House of Studies, Quezon City, was to assist Fr. Emeterio Barcelon at MILAMDEC, Xavier University in 2006-2009.
Bro. Deo passed away at the age of 89 years on 5 August 2016 at 8:02 P.M. at the Jesuit Health and Wellness Center due to Respiratory Failure secondary to recurrent pneumonia predisposed by persistent vegetative state resulting from multiple intracerebral bleeding. Of his 65 years as a Jesuit, he spent 27 years in Mindanao and 20 years at Sacred Heart Novitiate.
AMDG+