The Holy Father Pope Francis has conferred the prestigious Pro Ecclesiae et Pontifice award upon Rev. Father Norberto Mendiola Castillo, O.P., PhD, two-time former Rector of UST (1982-1990) for exemplary service to the Church, in simple ceremonies at the UST Hospital in November 2021. A chemist by profession, Father Castillo entered the Dominican Order and specialized in philosophy, which he continued to teach both in the UST Graduate School and the Ecclesiastical Faculties, where he was Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy.
Apart from heading our University in the 1980s, Father Castillo also served the University in various administrative capacities, such as being Vice-Rector for Religious Affairs and Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy. He was likewise Rector of the Angelicum College of Quezon City, now the UST Angelicum College.
Father Castillo, now formally assigned in the Priory of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary – Manaoag, Pangasinan, has been actively involved in the formation of priests in Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan, as he had been for many years when he was assigned in UST. He likewise served as a confessor in Rome for several years.
Most Rev. Socrates B. Villegas, O.P., D.D., Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan, presented the medal and certificate to Father Castillo, who formally received the award in ceremonies at the UST Hospital on November 19, 2021.
