Fr Eric Velandria SJ, who served our Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific (JCAP) from 2014 to 2020, passed away in Grosseto, Italy on 6 September at the age of 66.
Fr Velandria entered the Society of Jesus in the Philippines on 30 May 1985 and was ordained a priest on 20 April 1996. He took his Final Vows on 20 April 2015.
Throughout his 40 years as a Jesuit, his ministries spanned education leadership, refugee service, social justice coordination, and liturgical ministry in the Philippine Province, JCAP, and international Jesuit networks in Rome.
He was involved in JCAP, serving as socius and treasurer for two presidents, Fr Mark Raper SJ and Fr Tony Moreno SJ, before moving to Rome in mid-2020 to serve as the Coordinator for Global Education at the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) International Office. His last mission was as Collaboration and Research Coordinator for the Social Justice and Ecology Secretariat.
Fr Eric and Fr Tony (extreme left) at the Major Superiors Assembly, Palau 2019
Fr Moreno recalled the time he spent with Fr Velandria at the JCAP office. “As socius (executive associate) and treasurer, Fr Eric accompanied and oriented me to the mission of the conference for three years until he was assigned to the Jesuit Refugee Service in Rome.
“I was so blessed to have him as my companion and friend. We got along very well. He was the right person for this job since it also involved engaging and enabling the networks and peer groups of the conference to pursue their mission. At times he would get terribly upset about people, but it was always because he cared so deeply for the mission. Still, because he had a good sense of humour, he managed well the tensions that he was faced with.
“He looked after the welfare of the JCAP staff with a personal touch. He would remind them to take a break from work and bring some food to them from Arrupe International Residence without permission from the House Minister!
“He was part of the formation team of Arrupe International Residence, where he also assisted the rector in organising the apostolate programme of the scholastics and brothers. He had helpful suggestions for our formands so they could maximise their time while studying at Loyola School of Theology and Ateneo de Manila University.
“Our financial position was always sound and stable because he was on top of things. He was my confidant on matters pertaining to the mission and personal concerns. He will be truly missed.”
Fr Velandria will be buried on 10 September in Campo Verano in Rome, following the funeral Mass at the Church of Santo Spirito.
