Fr. Alexis Foyo

Fr. Alexis Foyo, OSB OCEANSIDE -- On November 24, 2010, just past midnight, our beloved confrere Fr. Alexis Foyo, OSB passed away peacefully on to his eternal reward while in a hospital in Florida. He had been suffering for quite some time from frontal temporal dementia, a disease that deteriorates random parts of the brain, then recently, in addition he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease which rendered him increasingly immobile. He was 59 years old, having been a monk for 27 years and a priest for 22 years. Alex Foyo was born into a Catholic family on July 10, 1951 in La Habana, Cuba, son of Dr. Guillermo Carlos Foyo Facciolio and Amelia Antonia Trigo Llanes Foyo. He was the third child, having two older sisters. Alex was educated by the Marist brothers until about the age of 10, when in 1961 the family was forded to flee to the United States shortly after the takeover of Fidel Castro. This was a traumatic experience which affected him greatly. He finished High School at Boston Technical School, Massachusetts. Alex joined St. Leo's Abbey in St. Leo, Florida in 1976 under the leadership of Abbot Fidelis Dunlap, OSB, and upon entering the novitiate, took the name Alexis. He was both monastic librarian and infirmarian from 1978 to 1979. Then he became Assistant Archivist from 1979 to 1980. After graduating from St. Anselm Abbey College in Manchester, New Hampshire, he went on to study for the priesthood at St.Vincent Seminary in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. He was ordained to the deaconate in 1982 and then the priesthood in 1983 by Bishop Keith Simmons for St. Leo's Abbey. Fr. Alexis served as Assistant Novice Master from 1983 to 1984 until he became assistant pastor at St. Augustine Church in Miami Archdiocese until 1990. Fr. Alexis transferred to Peace Abbey on May 18, 1992. He served in the position of Novice Master for several years in 1998, he went to Mount Savior Monastery in Pine City, New York where he helped out with pastoral duties and spiritual direction for the sisters in a convent nearby from 1999 until 2002. After his return to Prince of Peace Abbey of Peace Abbey, he worked as Assistant Oblate Director under Abbot Claude from 2004 to 2005, and then became Oblate Director from 2005 to 2007 with Abbot Claude assisting him. At that point, he began to show signs of the disease that would eventually take his life. Not understanding what was happening inside him, he would approach many persons with the request to pray for him. Fr. Alexis was very willing to help anyone who needed his assistance. He was a much sought-after counselor to the Hispanic community who greatly appreciated his ability to speak Spanish. Many Oblates remember him as a compassionate and gentle person who related very well to the persons with whole he communicated. Fr. Alexis is survived by two sisters, Sonia Collazo of Pembroke Pines, Florida, and Tania Fernandez of Miami, Florida as well as several nephews and nieces. The wake is planned for 7 p.m., on Monday, December 13, and the funeral will be held at 11 a.m., on Tuesday, December 14, at the Prince of Peace Abbey, 650 Benet Hill Rd., Oceanside, Calif. Sign the Guest Book online obits.nctimes.com