Msgr. Sabino Vengco, Jr., a known promoter of the welfare of elderly and sick Filipino priests, passed away on May 17. He was 79.
Vengco died at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center where he had been admitted since the previous week. His cause of death has yet to be disclosed.
After contracting Covid-19 in March, the priest was taken to Cardinal Santos Medical Center. He then recovered and was released from the hospital earlier this month.
He was confined again at the same hospital on May 11 and underwent gallbladder surgery on May 13.
Vengco taught theology at the UST Central Seminary, Loyola School of Theology in Ateneo de Manila University and the Recoletos School of Theology in Quezon City.
He completed his master’s studies in philosophy, magna cum laude, at Ateneo de Manila and diplomate studies in liturgy, summa cum laude, at the Catholic Faculty of Theology of Tier in Germany.
In 1965, he was ordained priest for the Diocese of Malolos.
He was also founding chair of the “Kadiwa sa Pagkapari Foundation,” an organization fostering the welfare of elderly Filipino priests.
Vengco received the “Serviam” award during the Catholic Mass Media Awards in 2007 for his role in conveying Christian values through the media.
In 2009, he was awarded “Gawad Sagisag Quezon ” by the Komisyon sa Wikang Pilipino for his exemplary use of the Filipino language in the media and the “San Jose Award ” as an outstanding alumnus of San Jose Seminary.
He was also the “Bukas Palad” awardee of Ateneo de Manila in 2003 and “Outstanding Catholic Author” in 1989.
The Bulacan provincial government conferred on him the “Dangal ng Lipi (Paglilingkod sa Pamayanan)” in 2010.
He was also a columnist for BusinessMirror.
His remains lay in state from May 17 to May 19 at the Antipolo Cathedral.
The funeral Mass was held on May 22 at the National Shrine of St. Anne in Hagonoy, Bulacan, presided by Malolos Bishop Dennis Villarojo.
