From the Archives

Armed with an immense amount of talent and unfailing optimism, Father Roberto Quant was ordained by Archbishop Charles Salatka on June 1, 1991. Born in Nicaragua on Sept. 22, 1960, his family moved to Honduras to escape the volatile political climate. Having owned and operated a Chinese restaurant in Nicaragua, it only was natural that their business continued in Honduras.
 
Father Roberto loved to joke about his Chinese features and heavy Spanish accent. In fact, to say that Father Roberto liked to joke is a gross understatement. For those who knew him well, laughter is the first thing that comes to mind when recalling this remarkable man. He could find joy in the mundane and his enthusiasm for the people he served was renowned.
 
Priesthood was a vocation he took seriously. He fully believed in a life of service and loved sharing himself with parishioners. Joana Comacho, the former principal of Sacred Heart Catholic School who worked with him at his final assignment as pastor of Sacred Heart, recalled:        “Father Roberto’s unique personality made him special to those who met him. He always made you feel like you were his favorite, most loved and most treasured friend, just as his best friend Jesus would do.”
 
While known as one of the wittiest priests in the archdiocese, he was a canonist who knew the law thoroughly and its proper application. Because he was fun loving, it is sometimes forgotten that he possessed a sharp mind and was a cleric of great depth. Revered for his warmth and compassion, his leadership skills and vision brought out the best in people and facilitated their growth in the faith.
 
Understanding the feelings of being in a foreign culture (which he himself had experienced when coming to Oklahoma for college) Father Roberto embraced the Hispanic population of Holy Angels and Sacred Heart, building strong communities and, in the case of Sacred Heart, revitalizing the school (with the guidance of Comacho) and nearly doubling the enrollment.
 
In 2013, he had been appointed pastor of Saint Eugene, a parish with equally vibrant Anglo and Hispanic communities. It appeared to be the perfect match. Sadly, Father Roberto left this life suddenly at age 52 before he could begin his new challenge. Upon his death, Archbishop Coakley summed up a life well-lived:
 
“He leaves behind him a rich legacy. As a priest, a son, a brother and friend, he enriched the lives of those around him with his delightfully animated intelligence and abiding good spirits. As beloved pastor of Sacred Heart parish, he attended to the spiritual needs of more than 8,000 parishioners with generosity and a smile. As judicial vicar in the provincial tribunal, he was an effective and amiable colleague.”