Msgr. Guillermo Gaston, who was said to be the last Filipino to reside at the Pontificio Collegio Pio Latino Americano in Rome, passed away on Thursday, July 20.
Gaston, a priest of the Diocese of Bacolod, reportedly succumbed to cardiac arrest at a city hospital at 5:37 p.m. He was 91.
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.
Before the establishment of the Pontificio Collegio Filippino (PCF) in 1961, it was the college where Filipino seminarians and priests sent for studies used to reside.
A pontifical college is a hostel for student priests who pursue higher ecclesiastical studies in various universities and institutes in Rome.
After completing his theological studies in Rome, Msgr. Gaston was assigned to various parishes within the Bacolod diocese, including serving as rector of the San Sebastian Cathedral.
According to the diocese, the priest 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.
He is the uncle of Fr. Gregory Ramon Gaston, the current Rector of the Pontificio Collegio Filippino.
Msgr. Gaston was a priest for 63 years and served five bishops of Bacolod.
