On Friday, April 23, 2021, at 9:00 p.m. our brother, Fr. Pedro Sergio Pereira Villar, TOR, was visited by Sister Death after a long fight against COVID-19.

He was born in the city of San Estanislao, Paraguay, on September 9, 1950. He began to walk with the TORs thanks to the vocational group created by Fr. Mario Caparuccini, TOR, missionary of the Province of Saint Francis of Assisi, Italy in 1974. The following year, he entered San Gregorio Seminary, which had just opened, and resumed his secondary study at the Liceo San Estanislao (now Col. San Francisco de Asís) for the first year of middle school. He then was transferred to the city of Asunción where, in 1977, he completed his secondary studies at the Ykua Satí School.

He entered the novitiate in the city of Coronel Oviedo in 1978, having as novice master Fr. Rafael Eagle, TOR, missionary of the Province of the Immaculate Conception, USA.  He made his first religious profession on January 2, 1979.  That same year, he began his theological studies at the Higher Institute of Theology of the Catholic University Nuestra Señora de la Asunción in Paraguay, which he finished in 1986.

He professed solemn vows on February 19, 1984 in the city of San Estanislao, before Fr. Jose Catini, TOR.

He was ordained to the diaconate on February 25, 1985 and to the priesthood on July 26, 1986 by the imposition of the hands of Bishop Oscar Páez Garcete, with Fr. Luis Tosiani, TOR as provincial.

In the Vice Province,  he served as a formator for more than 6 years,.  He was pastor in the parish of San Estanislao for 5 years and in Tres Reyes also for 5 years,.  He also served in the parish of the Infant Jesus of Prague in Asunción, Parroq; Our Lady of the Assumption – Hernandarias y Parroq; and Christ the Redeemer – Cnel Oviedo. The last 18 years of his life, he resided in the San Damián Fraternity of the city of Cnel. Oviedo, teaching at the Colegio San Antonio de Padua and helping the friars in the apostolate.

Fr. Pedro Sergio was an affable character, always welcoming. He liked to serve his brothers, and he never turned down any job no matter how humble and he was always cheerful. He was a simple brother.

His funeral, presided by the Provincial Minister, Father Federico Gayoso, took place on April 24, 2021 in the San Estanislao parish of the city of the same name, in the presence of friars, priests and faithful.

His mortal remains rest in the TOR Franciscan Cemetery, located in the Saint Gregory Seminary, awaiting the Coming of the Lord.