Fr. Romeo J. Intengan, SJ (1942-2017)

Fr. Romeo J. Intengan, SJ (1942-2017)

October 10, 2017

This is to inform you that FR. ROMEO J. INTENGAN, S. J. died quite suddenly early this morning, October 10, 2017. He suffered cardiac arrest while being brought to the hospital. Fr. Archie, 75, entered the Society on 25 July 1970 and was ordained a priest on 27 March 1977. He served as PHI Provincial from 1998-2004.

Wake:  The wake begins this evening (if the body is ready) in the Oratory of St. Ignatius, Loyola House of Studies [Ateneo de Manila University campus, Loyola Heights, Q.C.]. Daily wake Masses at 8 p.m.

Funeral Mass: Tentatively, on Saturday, 14 October at 8 a.m. in the Oratory of St. Ignatius, LHS.  This may need to be adjusted pending the arrival of family from the U.S.

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

Requiescat in pace.


BIOGRAPHY OF FR. ROMEO JOCSON INTENGAN, S.J. (1942-2017)
By Sch. Amado T. Tumbali, S.J., Asst. Prov. Archivist

Fr. Romeo Jocson Intengan was born on 18 October 1942 in Cauayan, Negros Occidental. He attended primary education at Colegio de San Agustin, Iloilo City (1947-49), St. John’s Academy, San Juan, M.M (1949-51), and at Lincoln College, Iloilo City (1951-53) and graduated with a distinction of valedictorian. He continued secondary school at Lincoln College (1953-57) and finished as salutatorian. In college, he took up and completed Pre-Medicine and Association of Arts at the University of the Philippines-Visayas, Miagao, Iloilo in 1960 then he pursued Medicine at the University of the Philippines-Manila, Padre Faura St., Manila and graduated in 1965. He became instructor in the College of Medicine of U.P. (1967-70), and then commenced a residency in Surgery at U.P.-Philippine General Hospital, Manila in 1970.

His medical training came to a halt when he entered the Jesuits on 25 July 1970 at Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches. He entered on the same day with novice-brother Roberto Villamero. However, there were no entrees in the following year; he, Villamero, and Peter Chang (Hong Kong) continued their noviceship at the Loyola School of Theology. After vows, he studied Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy at the Ateneo de Manila University (1972-74) then immediately proceeded to study for a Bachelor in Sacred Theology (1977-78) at the Loyola School of Theology. He was ordained to the diaconate on 11 December 1976 by Bishop Amado H. Paulino, Auxiliary of Manila, at the L.H.S. Chapel and to the presbyterate on 27 March 1977 by Bishop Oscar V. Cruz, Auxiliary of Manila, at the same chapel with Frs. Jose Mario C. Francisco and Jose M. Cruz.

His first assignment as a priest was to teach in the Department of Theology at the Ateneo de Manila University (1978-80) then he went to Jolo and Sabah to do some work with Partido Demokratiko-Socialista ng Pilipinas and the Moro National Liberation Front against Marcos Regime (1980-82). Afterwards, he was sent to Universidad Pontificia Comillas, Madrid to study Licentiate in Sacred Theology, with a concentration in Moral Theology, where he graduated summa cum laude (1982-87).
Post-EDSA Revolution, Fr. Archie returned to the Philippines and was assigned to Loyola House of Studies where he was vice-superior of Juniors and Philosophers (1987-95), consultor and prefect of health (1989-95). He took a break for Tertianship in Mexico (1991-92). A year after, he pronounced final vows on 14 August 1993 at L.H.S. Chapel. On 27 April 1998, he was named the 8th Provincial of the Restored Philippine Province and served a full term until 2004. He played a protagonist role amidst the political turmoil at that time, particularly during the crisis that led to the impeachment of President Joseph Estrada from power and the Second EDSA Revolution.

Fr. Archie returned to formation and teaching ministries after his leadership term. He was assigned as vice-superior of the Theologians (2005-07) and taught Moral Theology at the Loyola School of Theology from 2005 until his sudden death due to cardiac arrest at six in the morning of 10 October 2017 while being brought from the Jesuit Residence to the hospital.

atty. pearl garganera-gauzon on October 10, 2017 AT 10 am

i consider fr. archie intengan my very good friend. we studied at the university of the philippines iloilo college (upic) taking up pre-law (me) and pre-med (fr. archie). even while i was in the u.s. for 38 years, we regularly got in touch with each other. i will always remember his kindness. he personally came to my house in iloilo city to deliver a rosary blessed by pope francis some 3 years back. fr. archie, your kindness and compassion certainly merit heaven as your eternal reward. may you rest in peace! pearl garganera-gauzon

Graise Z. Gaerlan on October 10, 2017 AT 11 pm

We first met Fr. Romeo “Archie” Intengan, SJ when we were looking for a priest to conduct a spiritual retreat to the students of the Philippine Science High School many years ago when our eldest son Drix was still a student there. Amidst problems surrounding the retreat, Fr Archie made sure that the retreat went through successfully. He had a very “special interest” with the “spirituality” of the science high schoolers — and he based this on his own experience — experimental and always looking for answers to religion and philosophy, humanity, and one’s existence.

Rest in the bosom of our Lord Fr ARCHIE. You will be missed . . . a lot !
Eternal rest grant unto Fr. Archie, O Lord
And let Perpetual Light shine upon him.
May he rest in peace. Amenl

    Pinoy Jesuits on October 13, 2017 AT 12 am

    Thank you for remembering Fr Archie. Let’s keep him in our prayers. God bless!

mjcg padilla on October 14, 2017 AT 01 am

Fr. Archie was a kindhearted guy. One significant encounter I had with him was when I was walking in Cubao, a flashy car (i guess it’s not his but his friend’s) stopped by and when I turned, it was Fr. Archie. He asked where I was going. I replied I am visiting my sister nearby. He said “Hop in, we will give you a lift.” I was simply touched by that gesture. He remembered faces even on brief encounters. Indeed, a very simple guy who had no airs. You will be truly missed, Fr. Archie. Rest in peace.

Mary Bridget on October 17, 2017 AT 02 pm

You left a void in the family. God alone can fill this void. We are so sad of your passing. But knowing you are with Him, we are consoled. Rest in peace now… Jocson family

    Pinoy Jesuits on October 17, 2017 AT 11 pm

    Thank you for remembering Fr Archie. We continue to pray for his eternal repose. God bless!

Jimid P Mansayagan on October 20, 2017 AT 12 am

We are neither Catholics nor Protestants. We are Lumad or Indigenous Peoples here in Mindanao. But we are among those who were fortunate enough touched by Fr. Archie’s passion to serve the oppressed and the exploited. Good people like him are love by the Creator and that picking them up for home is swift than we knew. Sige, Fr. Archie. madamo gid iya nga salamat sa pagkakilala namon sa imo. Tani nagkakilalahay na ta sadto. Rest in peace.

Felipe F. Montealto, Jr. on October 28, 2017 AT 03 pm

October 28, 2017

Sometime in 2004, I had the rare chance to have personally met Fr. Archie, who was the Mass Presider as a culmination of our Vocation Search-In Program organized by the team at the Loyola House of Studies in Katipunan.

Apart from his own vocation story, Fr. Archie shared his thoughts on indigenous people as that Sunday was intended for the marginalised group.

Fr. Archie was a bit happy upon learning that I am also an Ilonggo, making some tentative moves for admission to the Jesuits. I sought his prayers and blessings. Incidentally, he was on his last year as the Provincial of the Society of Jesus.

“Death is not extinguishing the light; it is only putting out the lamp because the dawn has come.” (Rabindranath Tagore).

Eternal rest grant unto Fr. Archie, O Lord, and let the perpetual light shine upon him. May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Mike sola on January 31, 2018 AT 06 am

He is a father, a friend, a mentor, and a wonderful person! I will miss you father. See u

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