paalam, Msgr Rodriguez [20 Nov 2013 Necrological Service] Magandang gabi muli sa lahat. Nandito ako as a legionary to pay tribute to our late Msgr Rodriguez. By the time he became parish priest of San Juan, the Legion in the parish had existed for over 30 years. The co-foundress of the Legion in the country – J Lucas – was one of Msgr’s most dedicated church workers. Even beyond her death, the Msgr supported the launching of her publications that are now capstone documents of the Legion around the world. And Msgr recognized the talent and tenacity of San Juan legionaries such that, in order that he may obtain current data on the conditions of his parish, he entrusted to them the headcount of the parish population, (the 2nd parish census) - along the way, obtaining data on the nr of persons who attend masses inside the church, also outside the church, the nr of persons who drop offerings in the collection bags, the nr of couples who are married in church, etc. – data that was also significant when he started the expansion of the parish church structure. Pinahalagahan niya ang gawain ng Legion. Kahanga-hanga din naman kasi ang Legion – conducting (even) a recollection for the San Juan Police – napag retreat ang mga pulis! (Mater Ecclesiae, p. 212) The first 5 parish catechists were also legionaries. (p. 105) Minahal din ni Msgr ang mga patron ng Legion. He is a known Marian – ganyan naman yata ang lahat ng mga nagpapari at nagiging pari. He loved Mary as Our Lady of Perpetual Help. And he loved St Joseph, also in a very special way. So we have a St Joseph Chapel adjunct to our church. Malamang St Joseph was with him in his peaceful death. Alam natin na sinimulan ni Msgr ang BEC – BCC – at may mga nawala ding mga organizations during his time – yung Cursillo, Adoracion Nocturna, CFM at YLAC. Even the present San Juan Legion is a far cry from the close to or over 20 praesidia or groups existing from the 50s on to the 90s. But it is documented that up to the mid-90s, the Legion “was (still) at the heart of parish activities”. Sinasabi ko ang lahat ng ito dahil gusto kong magkaroon ng kabuluhan ang pagpanaw ng isang taong naniwala at nag aruga sa Legion sa ating parroquia. Noong panahon ni Msgr. hanggang noon isang Sunday, San Juan Legionaries, were left to their own resources to find a meeting place and a place to secure their assets. Is it coincidental that as Msgr Rodriguez leaves us for his heavenly home, the Legionaries in San Juan now have a “home” for themselves – in particular, a sizable room, among those built during Msgr’s tenure, and that Fr Frank has so kindly allowed us to call our own? Salamat din kay Ss Tess, Ruby. Sa pagtatapos, masasabi ko, matatanggap ninyo, na si Msgr at ang mga San Juan Legionaries ay nagmahalan parang tunay na ama at mga anac – isang pagsasamang itinutuloy natin hanggang sa ngayon sa ating kapatid –si Fr Frank. Alang-alang sa pagmamahal natin kay Msgr. at ng pagmamahal niya sa atin na mga Legionaries, let us continue to support our parish and our pastors. Sa ngalan ng mga Legionaries ng San Juan, paalam, Msgr Rodriguez. Goodnight, thank you, every one!