Passing of Fr. Antonio Ruiz

Reverend Antonio A. Ruiz passed away on May 11, 2023, at ninety years of age. Fr. Antonio was born on January 6, 1933, in Douglas, Arizona to Antonio E. Ruiz and Olga Cass Ruiz. He attended elementary school in Douglas and Naco, Arizona. He graduated from Bisbee High School in 1952 and went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music from the University of Arizona in 1957. He obtained a Master of Music at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles and thereafter taught school in Los Angeles and Phoenix, Arizona.

In 1965 he entered Holy Apostles Seminary in Cromwell, Connecticut with a focus in Philosophy and Latin. He studied Theology at St. Thomas Seminary in Denver, Colorado from 1967 to 1970. He was awarded a Master of Divinity Degree at St. Meinrad Seminary in St. Meinrad, Indiana in 1971 and was ordained as a priest of the Diocese of Tucson by Bishop Francis Green on November 2, 1971, at St. Augustine Cathedral in Tucson, Arizona.

His first priestly assignment was as the associate pastor of Holy Cross Parish in Morenci, Arizona followed by assignments as associate pastor at St. Anthony of Padua in Casa Grande, Arizona and Immaculate Conception Parish in Douglas, Arizona. In addition, Fr. Ruiz was appointed by Bishop Francis Green to serve as the Chairman of the Priests' Senate Committee on Alcohol and Chemical Dependency from 1977 to 1982. In 1978 he was named Pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Douglas, Arizona where he served until 1993. In addition to serving as the Pastor of Immaculate Conception, Fr. Ruiz also served as the Chaplain of the Cochise College Campus Ministry and the Director of the Newman Apostolate at Cochise College. On February 9, 1993 he was appointed as the Pastor of San Felipe de Jesus Parish in Nogales, Arizona where he remained until his retirement from active ministry in 2001.  

Fr. Ruiz was a beloved Pastor, faithful servant of Christ and His Church and a dedicated family member. He was predeceased by his parents, Antonio E. Ruiz and Olga Cass Ruiz, and is survived by his sister, Olga Cruz, and his brother and loving caretaker, Rene Daniel Ruiz.

Funeral services for Fr. Antonio will be held at Our Mother of Sorrows Parish in Tucson on Saturday, May 20, 2023, with viewing from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., Rosary at 11:00 a.m., and Funeral Mass at 11:30 a.m. Burial will follow at Holy Hope Cemetery in Tucson, Arizona.
 

Eternal rest grant unto Fr. Antonio, O Lord, and let your perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Please click below to enjoy Fr. Antonio sharing his passion for music.