Father Robert T. Guillen, a priest of The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington for more than 50 years, died Easter Sunday, April 9, at Bartholomew House, a Victory Housing care facility in Bethesda, Maryland. He was 85 years old.

He was born on Jan. 15, 1938 in Brooklyn, New York. Prior to entering Christ the King Seminary in St. Bonaventure, New York, as a seminarian for this archdiocese, he attended Newark State Teachers College in Union, New Jersey, and took pre-theology courses at Resurrection College in Kitchener, Ontario.

He was ordained to the priesthood on May 16, 1970 at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle.

In a 2020 interview with the Catholic Standard on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of his ordination, Father Guillen said that he was inspired to become a priest “by the example of other priests” who served at his parish when he was growing up. He added that “the best part of being a priest is hearing Confession and (providing to the faithful) Holy Communion.”

During his five decades of priestly ministry, Father Guillen served as a parochial vicar at the following Washington, D.C. parishes: St. Francis Xavier Parish from 1970 to 1973; St. Martin of Tours Parish from 1973 to 1987; the Church of the Assumption from 1987 to 1991; St. Francis de Sales Parish from 1992 to 1998; and Holy Name Parish from 1998 until his retirement in 2014.

In addition to his parish ministry, from 1976 to 1986, Father Guillen served as director of St. Martin Parish’s day camp; and from 1991 to 1992, he served as Catholic chaplain to Greater Southeast Hospital.

After his retirement, Father Guillen became a resident of Bartholomew House.

In that 2020 interview with the Catholic Standard, Father Guillen said he spent most of his retirement days in prayer and remarked that the priesthood “sure is a good life. I would do it again.”

Washington Cardinal Wilton Gregory will celebrate a Mass of Christian Burial for Father Guillen on Friday, April 14 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Bartholomew Church in Bethesda. A vigil will be held there on Thursday, April 13, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. A Vigil Mass will be offered at 7:30 p.m.

Interment will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery in Washington, D.C.