Fr. James Reuter, SJ passes away

Our beloved Fr. James Reuter died around 12:50pm on (31 Dec. 2012, Manila time), after being comatose for about a week. He was 96. He was an institution by himself. He loved the Philippines and the Filipinos so much, and he gave of himself so much and to so many.

Fr. James Reuter was moderator of the Blue Eagles Varsity Team, the world-famous Ateneo Glee Club and was also very active in the theatre. He directed The Mikado, The Lady’s not for Burning, and so many more stage productions. He was also school chaplain of St. Paul’s College and was unanimously granted Filipino citizenship by the Philippine House of Representatives. He was regarded as “more Filipino than the average Filipino.”

The details of the wake are not yet that definite. As of last notice tonight, from tonight to Jan 2, he will be waked at the Our Lady of Peace Hospital in Paranaque. He died in this hospital for which he helped raise funds. The hospital was established to assist the poor, and is run by the St. Paul de Chartres sisters. He had been confined there for some 3 years when his health was not good anymore.

The wake will be at the Loyola House of Studies at the Ateneo Loyola Heights campus. Funeral Mass will be on Sat, Jan 5, at 8:30am at the Gesu Church in the campus. Interment will follow right after, at the Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches.

I am sure so many things will be written and said of this legendary Jesuit who stayed on with us during the 2nd World War, and was imprisoned by the Japanese.

While we pray for him, we certainly have him also praying for us and the Philippines.

Fr. Noel Vasquez, SJ

Updated: 2013-01-01 — 01:05:25