A Love Story in the Missions: The Story of Fr. Lucio Urroz, OP

A LOVE STORY IN THE MISSIONS:

The Story of Fr. Lucio Urroz, OP, a Spanish Dominican who ministered in Isabela and Batanes

In July 2020, Fr. Zenki Manabat of the Prelature of Batanes visited the local cemetery in Basco, Batanes and prayed before the tombs of the Dominican missionaries. One of the tombs caught his attention, which he probably wanted to restore. He also wished to know more about this certain Fr. Lucio Urroz, OP. He requested yours truly and here are some information that we have found out about him.

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REV. FR. LUCIO URROZ y MARTÍN, OP (1862-1940)

UN GRAN MISIONERO DOMINICANO DE ISABELA Y DE LAS BATANES

Rev. Fr. Lucio Urroz y Martín, OP is a native of Navarra, Spain. He was born on 14 December 1862. He received the Dominican habit in Santo Domingo Convent in Ocaña, Spain on 5 December 1880 at the age of 18. He professed his simple vows also in Ocaña on 11 December 1881 and his solemn vows in Santo Tomás Convent in Ávila, Spain on 14 December 1884. He was a deacon, who already finished three years of Philosophy studies (1881-1884) and another three years of Theology studies (1884-1887), when he arrived in Manila. On 24 September 1887, he was ordained priest in Manila at the age of 25.

The following year, he was assigned in Cauayan, Isabela on 26 April 1888 where he stayed for almost two years. In 1890, he was transferred to Ilagan, Isabela. On 27 June 1891, he was named a vicar of the locality (Vicario de Santa María de Luzón). [NB: Vicarios led mission stations]. While in Ilagan, he was taken as a prisoner by the Tagalog revolutionary forces on September 1898 during the Philippine Revolution. He was tortured and received two bouts of blows using vines, leaving him half-crippled. After fifteen months in harsh captivity, in which he was subjected to many hardships and privations, he was able to return to Manila. 

After three years of recuperation and introspection in Santo Domingo Convent in Intramuros, he voluntarily offered himself to resume the ministry in Batanes; and there, he untiringly and successfully preached the Good News for 37 years (1903-1940), defying the sea and the winds; and regardless of the dangers to which he exposed his life, he nevertheless provided for the spiritual and temporal good of those islanders who asked for it. For many years, he was the 'Vicario de Ivana'; and later, the 'Vicario Provincial' (1915-1918) of the entire Batanes. 

In 1918, he was named 'Vicario de la Isla de Saptan' (now, Sabtang), where he resided for almost 20 years. He contracted acute pneumonia and crossed the channel that separates Sabtang from Basco in order to receive the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. Shortly after, he died in Santo Domingo de Basco on 29 December 1940 “recibidos los santos sacramentos” (he received the holy sacraments). He was buried in the local cemetery, where his grave is still identified even today. He was undoubtedly a great Dominican missionary. He testified to the memory of the Dominican missionaries who had come before him in that remote and isolated group of islands, Batanes.

Sources: 

Actas del Capitulo Provincial de la Provincia Dominicana del Ssmo. Rosario, año 1947.

US Philippine Commission (1899-1900), Report of the Philippine Commission to the President, Volume 3, pp. 68-70.

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REFLECTION: Aren't you amaze how the endeavors of a previously unknown Dominican missionary of a bygone era can touch our life today? May we continue our present ministry and vocation with such enthusiasm, relying only to God. May our ongoing love story influence and inspire others as we continue to offer our life and preach the love of God. In our simple and humble ways, we might not be even aware of it, but the memory of the things that we have done may bring inspiration to others... maybe not today, but next week, or next month, or next year, next decade, next century... even after we have expired our last breath in the service of the Lord and His Church. Keep on lovin'!