Remembering Fr. Bill Perez, OSA (1935-2017)

It is with a heavy heart that we share the news that Fr. Bill Perez, OSA, passed away suddenly in his home at Cascia Hall's St. Augustine Monastery on Saturday afternoon.

The Midwest Augustinian family recently honored the 60th anniversary of Fr. Bill Perez's Profession of Vows at a reception at Cascia Hall, where many gathered to share their memories and gratitude for his decades of service.

Fr. Bernie Scianna, OSA, speaking with Fr. Bill Perez, OSA, at the 2016 Tulsa Reception

Fr. Bill Perez and friends at the Tulsa reception celebrating his 60 years as an Augustinian

Fr. Perez was born and baptized in Mexico City, Mexico with the name Guillermo Armando de Corazón de Jesús Amieva in 1935.  He found his way to meeting the Augustinians in the United States when he enrolled at Cascia Hall in 1952, where he received his high school diploma.  While he studied at Cascia, he adopted the name William, which is the English equivalent of the name Guillermo.

Following his time at Cascia, Fr. Perez went on to study at Tulsa University.  After graduating in 1955, he entered the Augustinian Novitiate and then professed his first religious vows - vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience - one year later.  

Fr. Perez professed his solemn (perpetual) vows in the Order in 1959 and continued his studies at Villanova University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy in 1958.  He then pursued theological studies at Augustinian College in Washington, D.C., and was ordained to the priesthood on June 9, 1962.

Fr. Perez served widely across the Midwestern United States.  His first assignment after his priestly ordination was to serve at Augustinian Academy in St. Louis, Missouri.  That assignment only lasted a few months, though, as he was needed to serve at Austin Catholic High School in Detroit as a teacher and vice-principal.  He served there from 1962 until 1967.  He then was transferred for a year to a similar position at Mendel Catholic High School in Chicago.

In 1967, Fr. Perez was assigned to his serve as a teacher at his Cascia Hall alma mater.  He was reassigned to St. Louis for three years, but returned back to Tulsa in 1972  where he served faithfully for the following 16 years.

From 1988 to 1992, Fr. Perez began serving as a Pastor for two parishes in the Diocese of Fort Worth, Texas:  Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Morgan and Holy Angels Parish in Clifton.  He lived at the Augustinian Center House in nearby Abbott, Texas, at this time; the center house served as a small community for multiple friars serving several small churches in the surrounding area.

In 1992, he returned once again to Cascia Hall as a teacher.  In this time, he also served as the Facilities Manager, Grounds Supervisor, Alumni Chaplain, and Director of Tennis.  He retired in 2014.

Funeral Arrangements for Fr. Perez:

Visitation:
4:30 p.m. Thursday, February 16 with a Vigil service at 7 p.m.
St. Rita of Cascia Chapel at Cascia Hall
2520 S. Yorktown Ave.
Tulsa, OK74114-2803

Funeral Mass:
10 a.m. Friday, February 17
St. Rita of Cascia Chapel

Burial:
Monday, February 20, time to be announced,
Augustinian plot at Calvary Cemetery, Tulsa.

In lieu of flowers, the Augustinians request that you make a donation in honor of Fr. Bill Perez for the care of our retired and infirm friars