Rest in Peace, Fr. Armando P. Ibáñez, O.P.

Father Armando P. Ibáñez, O.P., a devoted servant of God, entered eternal life on December 22, 2025, in McAllen, Texas, at the age of 76. Born in San Diego, Texas, on June 26, 1949, he later moved with his family to Alice, Texas. Father Ibáñez exemplified a life dedicated to spiritual guidance and cultural enrichment, leaving an indelible mark on all who were blessed to know and love him.
 
Father Ibáñez attended the Dominican School of Philosophy & Theology, where he earned his Master of Divinity. He was ordained a priest in the Southern Dominican Province on December 11, 1993, at St. Francis de Paula Catholic Church in San Diego, TX. He embraced his vocation with fervor and grace. His journey as a Roman Catholic Dominican Priest was to preach the Gospel, nurture God’s people, and know, serve, and love God. Father Ibáñez lived his faith through his actions and deeds, radiating God’s unconditional love with compassion, kindness, wisdom, and trust in God’s Living Word.
 
Father Ibáñez graduated from William Adams High School in 1968. He furthered his education at Texas A&I College, the University of Houston, the University of Texas, and the American Film Institute in California. He served as a Priest, Chaplain, Parochial Vicar, Vicar of Hispanic Ministry, and Director of Parish Ministries. He also worked as a Producer-Director-Writer, Story & Theological Consultant-Writer, Journalist, College Professor of Mass Communication and Film/Broadcasting, Instructor of Scriptwriting & Electronic Media & Creative Writing, a Publisher, a Poet, and a Short Story Writer. He received numerous awards, including Excellence in Art Awards, Screenplay Production Awards, Sweepstakes Awards in Writing Competitions, and more, reflecting a multifaceted personality that embraced both artistic and spiritual dimensions.
 
Father Ibáñez resided in Edinburg, Texas, within the Catholic Diocese of Brownsville, where he celebrated Sunday Mass as needed. In May 2025, Fr. Ibáñez retired as Professor in the Department of Communication & Journalism and Fine Arts at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in Edinburg, Texas.
 
Father Ibáñez leaves behind his Dominican Priesthood family; his loving siblings, Irma L. Lopez, Geronimo H. Ibáñez, and Elsa I. (David) Alvarez; sister-in-law, Edna M. Ibáñez; along with numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and extended family members who all grieve his passing.
 
Father Ibáñez is preceded in death by his parents, Geronimo and Vicenta Ibáñez; his siblings Guillermo Norberto Ibáñez, Ricardo Ibanez, Luis "Lulo" Ibáñez, Maria Guadalupe (Hermilo) Carreno, and Sylvia (Lolo) Gonzalez, brother-in-law, Homero Lopez, and his nephew Marco Antonio Lopez, all of whom have undoubtedly welcomed him into the eternal embrace of love. He was laid to rest last week at San Diego Cemetery.