Father Jesus Briones, SVD missionary, called to Eternal Rest

Father Jesus Briones, SVD, born April 4, 1951, and a missionary in Argentina, the Philippines and the United States, passed away on Oct. 19 at the age of 74. Born in Tarlac, Philippines, Fr. Briones was the son of Lusencia (nee Escalona) and Benigno Briones. As a youth, he entered the Society of the Divine Word in Quezon City, Philippines in 1963. In 1971, he professed vows in Quezon City and was ordained to the priesthood in Tagaytay City, Philippines in 1976. Fr. Briones served in the Philippines, Argentina, Puerto Rico, New Jersey and Indiana before being transferred to California.  In 2012, Fr. Briones served at Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. George parishes in Ontario. He became a resident of the Divine Word Residence in Riverside in 2016 and was transferred to the Divine Word Resident at Techny in retirement. Fr. Briones’ funeral Mass was celebrated on Oct. 24 in Wendelin Hall at Techny and the Diocese of San Bernardino remembered Fr. Briones at the Annual Deceased Priests’ Mass on Nov. 5 at Our Lady Queen of Peace Cemetery, Colton.