Calapan bishop mourns death of SVD missionary priest

CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro — Calapan Bishop Moises M. Cuevas is mourning the death of Society of the Divine Word (SVD) missionary priest Rudolf Holzgartner, who spent more than five decades helping form generations of Filipino priests at Saint Augustine Seminary here.

Cuevas described Holzgartner, who passed in Germany on Wednesday, as a model of charity, prayer and discipline whose influence extended beyond the seminary to the families and communities he served.

Holzgartner held several key positions at the seminary, serving as prefect, procurator, rector and spiritual director. He also managed the seminary farm, which helped support the institution.

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READ: Vatican elevates Calapan to diocese; Cuevas named first bishop

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Cuevas said Holzgartner’s formation work influenced the first generation of the local clergy and generations of seminary formators, including those who continued their work until recent years.

“We cherish and admire the formation values he helped build into the culture of all our seminaries,” the bishop said.

He recalled that Holzgartner demanded discipline and excellence in academics, athletics, farm work and outdoor activities, pushing seminarians to reach their potential through daily discipline rather than output alone.

Despite his uncompromising standards, Holzgartner earned the gratitude and affection of his former students, even in their old age, Cuevas said, citing the priest’s visits during his retirement as a testament to how much he was loved.

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“He was empowering long before the term became fashionable,” the bishop said.

Cuevas also praised Holzgartner’s quiet dedication to charity and prayer, saying the full extent of his assistance to the poor, workers and their families might never be known.

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“Just as he was with his charity, so was he with his prayer, plain and steady, no fanfare but always there,” he said.

He also urged the Saint Augustine Seminary community, alumni, priests and laypeople to offer a requiem Mass for Holzgartner at the earliest time. He encouraged seminarians to include the deceased priest in their Masses./coa