NAPERVILLE—Father Manuel “Manny” Gerardo Gómez Reza died at Edward Hospital in Naperville on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019.

 

Father Gomez was born on Dec. 2, 1983, in Súchil, Durango, Mexico, to Manuel Gómez Fernández and Julia Reza Serrato. 

 

He attended Minor Seminary in Durango, Mexico, from 1998-2001 and Major Seminary in Durango, Mexico, from 2001-2008, where he received a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy in 2008. 

 

Father Gomez came to the United States in 2010. He then attended St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul, Minn., from 2010-2013. 

 

He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop David J. Malloy on June 22, 2013, at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Rockford. 

 

He served as a parochial vicar at St. Mary in Huntley, St. Rita of Cascia in Aurora, and at St. Monica in Carpentersville. 

 

Father Gomez was also Associate Vocation Director and Assistant Diocesan Master of Ceremonies for the Rockford Diocese. In addition, he served as Spiritual Director for the Hispanic Catholic Cursillo movement for the diocese. He was also an occasional columnist for The Observer and El Observador.

 

In his pre-ordination profile published in the June 21, 2013, edition of The Observer, Father Gomez said, “In my vocation, I have not been alone. I have experienced Christ in my life. Through my family, friends, community, classmates and formators, I have discovered what God wants of me.” 

 

Father Gomez is survived by his parents Manuel Gómez Fernandez and Julia Reza Serrato and siblings, Rosa Guadalupe Gómez Reza, Socorro Gómez Reza, Ana María Gómez Reza, Angélica María Gómez Reza and brother Jesús Javier Gómez Reza and many relatives in Mexico and in Chicago.

 

Father  Gómez was well loved by his family, his brother priests, and the people he served in his parish assignments. 

 

Visitation was at St. Monica Parish in Carpentersville Jan. 2 and prior to the funeral Mass on Jan. 3. 

 

There will be a private burial at a later date in Súchil, Durango, Mexico.