Monsignor Guillermo Gaston, the last Filipino to reside at the Pontificio Collegio Pio Latino Americano in Rome, Italy passed away on Thursday, July 20 at the age of 91.
Monsignor Guillermo Gaston (Facebook)
The CBCP said the Church leader, a priest of the Diocese of Bacolod, reportedly succumbed to cardiac arrest at a city hospital at 5:37 p.m.,
The Collegio Pio Latino, or the Latin American College of Rome, is one of the colleges for student priests and seminarians from Central and South America.
A pontifical college is a hostel for student priests who pursue higher ecclesiastical studies in various universities and institutes in Rome.
“Filipino seminarians and priests sent for studies in Rome used to reside in the Collegio Pio Latino before the establishment of the Pontificio Collegio Filippino (PCF) in 1961,” the CBCP said.
Upon completion of his theological studies in Rome, Msgr. Gaston served in various parishes within the Bacolod diocese, including serving as rector of the San Sebastian Cathedral.
The Diocese of Bacolod said he made the first-ever translation of the liturgy from Latin to Hiligaynon. The priest has also been known for his efforts in preserving the local religious and traditional culture.
Rev. Fr. Ramon Gaston, the current Rector of the Pontificio Collegio Filippino is his nephew.
Msgr. Gaston was a priest for 63 years and served five bishops of the Diocese of Bacolod.
RELATED TAGS: #MONSIGNOR GUILLERMO GASTON