Deacon Mario Luis Mendoza, who served at St. Anthony of Padua
Church in Falls Church for 30 years, died Nov. 21 at age 86 surrounded by his
family. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mercedes.
Deacon Mendoza was born Nov. 30, 1934, in Cuba to Carlos Mendoza
and Aurora Castilla. He was ordained to the diaconate May 23, 1987. Upon
ordination, Arlington Bishop John Keating assigned him to work in the Spanish
Apostolate. He served at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Falls Church from 1991
to 2021, where he helped establish and lead ministries such as Spanish Cursillo
and Effeta Young Adult Ministry.
“The vibrancy of St. Anthony Parish has much to do with the dedication
of Deacon Mendoza,” said Father Matthew H. Zuberbueler, pastor. “He shepherded
numerous prayer groups, rooting them well so that they are still thriving to
this day. In his later years, he had a special wisdom that comes from years of
service to the Lord’s flock. He was a man at peace who looked forward to
meeting his Lord.”
Father Zuberbueler noted that Deacon Mendoza was perhaps best
known for his years teaching the baptismal preparation classes. He loved to
keep track of the number of baptisms he had celebrated — 5,836. “But after
that, he came in a wheelchair to celebrate the baptisms of two more of his
great-grandchildren, bringing the total to 5,838,” said Father Zuberbueler. “He
would always add that he had also celebrated 100 weddings and stopped there.”
Deacon Mendoza also helped start the Spanish-language Mass at St.
Rita Church in Alexandria after the nearby Episcopalian church began offering
services in Spanish that attracted local Catholics, said Father Zuberbueler.
“Deacon would stand on the street corner to inform people that there was a Mass
in Spanish now, inviting them to return home.”
A Mass of Christian burial was offered at St. Anthony of Padua
Church Nov. 27, and his remains were interred at Columbia Gardens Cemetery in
Arlington.
