Fr. Robert A. Rice, SJ (1923-2016)

November 21, 2016

This is to inform you that FR. ROBERT A. RICE, S. J. died early this morning in The Medical City, Pasig City, M. M.  Fr. Rice, 93, entered the Society on 14 August 1940 and was ordained to the presbyterate on 21 June 1953.

Wake:  The wake begins this evening in the chapel of the Jesuit Health and  Wellness Center, Loyola Heights, Q.C. Daily wake Masses at 8 p.m.

Funeral Mass: On Thursday, 24 November at 8 a.m. in the Oratory of St. Ignatius, Loyola House of Studies.

Interment: Sacred Heart Novitiate Jesuit Cemetery, right after the Funeral Mass.

Requiescat in pace.

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BIOGRAPHY OF FR. ROBERT A. RICE, S.J. (1923-2016)
By Sch. Amado T. Tumbali, S.J. (Asst. Province Archivist)

Fr. Robert A. Rice, S.J. was born on 24 February 1923 in Brooklyn, New York where he had elementary education (1929-1936) in a public school. He went to St. Francis Xavier High School in lower Manhattan (1936-1940), then took a secretarial course and worked as an office boy and runner in Larkin, Rathbone & Perry Law Firm (February – July 1940). He joined the Jesuits in St. Andrew-on-Hudson Novitiate, Poughkeepsie, New York on 14 August 1940 and continued there his juniorate (1942-1944). Next he studied Philosophy at St. Louis University in Missouri (1944-1947) where he earned bachelor and licentiate degrees. He continued in the same university for graduate studies in Educational Administration (1947-1948). For regency, he taught Religion, English, Speech, and Latin at Regis High School in New York City (1948-1950). Theology was at Woodstock College in Maryland (1950-1954) where he finished a licentiate. On 21 June 1953, the day after diaconate ordination, he was ordained to the priesthood in the Woodstock College Chapel by Baltimore’s Archbishop Francis P. Keough. Fr. Bob did tertianship (1954-1955) at Our Lady of Martyrs Shrine in Auriesville, New York under Fr. Francis E. Keenan, S.J.

His first assignment as a priest was to Culion, Palawan as assistant chaplain and parish priest (1955-1956), director of St. Ignatius Academy (1955-1959), and then Superior-chaplain (1956-1959). The 33-year-old Superior had under his command an 88-year-old Spanish missionary, Fr. Joaquin Villalonga, who had been among other things Superior of the Philippine mission, Provincial of Aragon, Apostolic Visitor, General Visitor, Superior of the Bombay and Ahmedabad missions, and later Ramon Magsaysay Awardee (1959). Fr. Bob’s next assignment was in Ateneo de Naga where he was moderator of the Reserved Officers Training Corps (1959-1961), Rector (1960-1966), librarian (1962-1965), professor of Philosophy, English and Theology (1962-1966), moderator of the Alumni Association (1962-1966) and chair of the Theology department (1966). After 7 years in Naga, Fr. Bob went to Fordham University, Bronx for a study sabbatical in Sacred Scripture (1966-1967). His third assignment in the Philippines was in Ateneo de Davao, where he was chair of the Education department while assistant prefect of studies (1967-1968), professor of college Theology, Philosophy and English (1967-1971), and Dean of Academic Affairs (1968-1971). During a sabbatical (1971-1972), he spent a summer at Loyola University, Chicago for some courses in Spirituality.

After 12 years in schools, Fr. Bob shifted from academic to spiritual ministries, giving retreats while residing in: Loyola House of Studies (1972-1973); Sacred Heart Novitiate (1973-1974); the Caroline Islands and Palau (Summer 1974); Gonzaga Retreat House, Monroe, New York (with sabbatical; 1974-1975); and Xavier High School, Chuuk, Micronesia (1975-1978). While in Micronesia, he was also visiting chaplain in Guam Penitentiary, Agana (1975-1978); principal of Xavier High School (1975-1978); student counselor and Religion teacher (1976-1978), and, at the same time, Superior.

Returning to the Philippines after a sabbatical in New York, Fr. Bob was sent to his longest assignment: Jesuit Retreat House, Banawa Hills, Cebu City (1979-2000, 2006-2008). There he was Spiritual Father (1979-1985), Minister (1982-1996) and Superior (1985-2000). He also spent two months a year (1983-85) in Singapore giving retreats. After 21 years in Banawa, he was assigned to give spiritual care to Cebu and to seminarians while assisting in Sacred Heart Parish (2000-2006). During this period he was also a spiritual director in the Assist Program and in the SPFY (2002-2005). Back in Jesuit Retreat House, Banawa he continued involvement with the Cebu clergy and seminarians (2006-2008). Then, after 29 years in Cebu, he moved to Jesuit Retreat House in Malaybalay to continue retreat ministry in Bukidnon (2008-2011).

In 2011, failing health brought Fr. Bob to care facilities at the Jesuit Residence, Ateneo de Manila University, and then four months ago to the Jesuit Health and Wellness Center, on the AdMU campus, as one of its first occupants. He was hospitalized in mid-September with pneumonia, and began to decline, requiring continuing ventilator support and special feeding. Fr. Bob died about 4:27 a.m. on 21 November in The Medical City, mainly from chronic respiratory failure and severe infection. Of the 93 years of his life, 61 were spent in the Philippines.