NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Rev. Robert Anthony Villegas, C.S.C., 95, died at Holy Cross House, Notre Dame, Indiana, on Thursday, July 10, 2025, after a short illness.
Rev. Robert A. Villegas, C.S.C., was born on June 7, 1930, in El Paso, Texas, to Bernardo and Consuelo (Olivares) Villegas and is one of four children.
Fr. Villegas attended Burleson Grade School (1937-1939) and Vilas School until 1944 in El Paso, Texas. His secondary school was El Paso High School, where he graduated in 1947. He entered the following colleges/universities: Texas Western College (1947-48); North Illinois College of Optometry (O.D. Optometry 1951). He entered Holy Cross in 1956 and attended the University of Notre Dame (B.A. Philosophy 1959); was ordained a Holy Cross priest on February 17, 1963, in Rome, Italy; Pontifical Gregorian University (S.T.B. 1961); and Catholic University of America (M.A. Theology 1967).
From 1952-1956, Fr. Villegas served in the United States Navy as an Opticalman First Class on the U.S.S. Fulton, a submarine tender. He served in the Naval Reserves from 1956-1960. While serving in the Navy, Fr. Villegas realized that he was called to help people as a priest rather than assisting his father in the family optometry practice.
After ordination in 1963, Fr. Villegas taught at Xavier University in New Orleans, Louisiana, and then later at St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas. He also served as an Associate Pastor at San José Catholic Church in Austin, Texas, and St. William Catholic Church in Round Rock, Texas. From 1973-1974, he served as the first chaplain from New Orleans to minister at the Louisiana State Penitentiary. However, in 1974, Fr. Villegas found his true calling in serving the needs of the people of the Mesilla Valley along the Rio Grande River between El Paso, Texas, and Las Cruces, New Mexico. He served for 16 years as Pastor of San José Catholic Church in La Mesa, New Mexico, with its missions in San Miguel, Santo Tomas, and Vado. Then, from 1990-2018, Fr. Villegas served as Pastor of San Luis Rey Church in Chamberino, New Mexico. These small neighboring parishes serve close-knit Hispanic communities in a poor rural area 30 miles north of the Mexican border. Fr. Villegas worked lovingly and tirelessly to care for the pastoral needs of his parishioners and to make physical improvements to their churches. He wrote in his biography, “I am truly happy. I needed to be here to do what God has allowed me to do.” From 2018-2024, he served as Chaplain for the Brother Vincent Pieau Residence in Austin, Texas, before residing at Holy Cross House in Notre Dame, Indiana, in 2024.
He is preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Delia Villegas Vorhauer and Dr. Bernard Villegas, Jr. He is survived by his sister, Rebecca Villegas Rodriguez.
Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. CT on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, at Brother Vincent Pieau Residence in Austin, Texas.
Burial will be in the Holy Cross section at Assumption Cemetery in Austin, Texas, Harrell Funeral Home, Austin, Texas, is in charge of the arrangements.
Memorial contributions in support of the mission and ministries of the Congregation of Holy Cross can be made to: United States Province of Priests and Brothers, Office of Advancement, P.O. Box 765, Notre Dame, IN 46556-0765 or online at https://donate.holycrossusa.org
