Fr. Lino Nicasio, SVD: A shepherd, teacher and friend to many

Among others, Fr. Marcellino “Lino” Nicasio, SVD, 76, is remembered as a shepherd, a teacher, and a friend to many.

Prayers, condolences, and gratitude, as well as photos with him, keep coming to social media after his passing at 2:30 pm on May 27 at Villa Cristo Rey, Christ the King Mission Seminary in Quezon City, after a period of illness, said the SVD community through Fr. Randy Flores, SVD.

In a social media post on May 28, the Sto. Niño Cathedral in Nicasio's hometown of Calapan expressed condolences to his family, relatives, and friends. 

He comes from a family of church workers. His brother-priests are Fr. Anselmo Nicasio, SVD (former parochial vicar of the cathedral); Mr. Oscar Nicasio (Sto Niño Cathedral organist); and Mr. Enrico Nicasio.

Their residence is in Barangay (village) Ilaya, near the cathedral, where Fr. Lino, whenever he is in Calapan, would celebrate the Holy Mass. 

Fr. Peter Andy Lubi, rector at Sto. Nino Parish Cathedral of the Apostolic Vicariate of Calapan, told Radio Veritas Asia he is grateful for Nicasio’s “tender and loving care, joyful friendship, and preaching mentorship.” 

Fr. Lino was born on April 17, 1949, in Calapan and graduated from Holy Infant Academy, where he was recognized among its outstanding alumni during its 80th founding anniversary.

He was ordained a priest on June 21, 1974. He celebrated his 50th sacerdotal anniversary last year.

As a missionary priest, he held several posts in different places. 

According to Saint Jude Catholic School, where he had served as principal, “as a priest of the Society of the Divine Word, Fr. Lino served the Church for over five decades: as seminary formator, professor of homiletics, communications director, rector of the National Shrine of Saint Jude Thaddeus, and spiritual father to many.

“His legacy includes countless personal encounters marked by humility, eloquence, and deep faith... remembered by the Judenite community for his calm yet firm leadership, his dedication to Catholic education, and his fatherly presence. As school principal, he led with wisdom and compassion, upholding the mission of human formation and academic excellence rooted in faith and service."

Sr. Loida Lim, a Dominican nun, was quick to post the memories of her family’s first meeting with Fr. Lino in the 1970s when he was assigned as assistant parish priest at San Jose Parish in Occidental Mindoro.  

“What started as a pastoral connection soon blossomed into a deep and lasting bond. One day, when he fell ill and was alone in the convent, it was Mama Agring who brought him to our home and cared for him until he recovered. From that day on, he was no longer just our assistant parish priest — he became family.”

“A comforting presence, a wise counselor, a quiet but powerful source of faith and strength,” she described him.

Fr. Glenn Paul Gomez also shared his bonding moments with Fr. Lino since they were altar boys in San Jose to SVD religious missionary priests from way back in 1975, the year Fr. Lino was assigned to San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, as an assistant parish priest.

Fr. Lino’s seminary students in homiletics at the Divine Word Seminary in Tagaytay have all praise for him. “Thank you for the inspiration and fun classes,” said Rey Anthony Casapao. To this, R-Jay Papasin adds his biggest learning from Fr. Lino: “Homily is storytelling.”

“The community mourns the loss of Fr. Linus. His years of dedicated service and profound impact on our lives will never be forgotten. May his soul find eternal rest,” said the National Shrine of Saint Jude Thaddeus, where he had been a parish priest and rector.

TV Maria said Fr. Lino has been the host of Salita ng Diyos, Salita ng Buhay for almost 20 years. He was also one of the celebrants at the Healing Eucharist of TV Mass at ABS-CBN.

The funeral of Fr. Lino will be on May 31, 2025, at 3 pm at the Diocesan Shrine of Jesus the Divine Word, Christ the King Mission Seminary in Quezon City. Attached is the schedule of masses for the wake and interment.