LEÓN RAMÍREZ CARDOZO Rogelio (Father) - Paraguay

Rogelio Leon Ramirez Cardozo was born 16th September 1936 in Ybycui, to a family who practised real Christian virtues, and departed this life for the Father’s House Thursday 9th August 2012, there to celebrate his Pascal feast.
Very soon his qualities as a navigator and a fisherman became evident. He used to tell how with his brother he built a sort of big “dustbin” (which must have looked like a fishing boat) which they would use during the rainy season to go fishing and sailing together on the river which skirted the town.
That was his way of showing his creative powers and his ability to face great challenges. These qualities, lived with the Lord, were useful for him later on in life to become a fisher of men full of conviction and apostolic zeal.
From his early youth he felt the Lord’s call to become a fisher of men as a priest. He was referred to St Joseph’s College in Ascension where the Apostolicat was situated, there to pursue his studies with the other Seminarians. Having finished his Secondary Education he went to Buenos Aires (1958) to the Notre Dame de Betharram seminary at Adrogue; here he made his novitiate, did his Philosophy and Theology culminating in his ordination in December 1964.
Father Rogelio was able to win the hearts of all those lucky enough to know him. From the days of his novitiate, making use of his knowledge, his skills, his creativity and his natural gifts he succeeded in solving all the problems linked to life in community as well as the maintenance of the Betharram Seminary. With his guitar, a flute and even a harmonium which he had built himself (he even taught his fellow religious how to play) he was never bored during his free afternoons. Optimism, genuine enthusiasm together with his love of life, shone out of him and impressed his fellow religious. As a newly ordained priest he taught at the Apostolicat in Asuncion. It was from here that he set out on his many trips on his motor bike into the interior of the country (Caazapa, San Juan, Ybycui, Encarnacion etc). He was involved in vocational ministry, inviting the young that he would meet to consecrate themselves in the religious life and the ministry. At the request of his superiors he moved to San Jose College in Buenos Aires as administrator for a short time. On his return to Paraguay, he was named director of the Apostolic College San Jose (1979 – 1984); from there he moved to San Jose College at Ciudad del Este (1985 – 1990).
During the time he was superior of the Vice-Province Notre Dame d’Asuncion (1991 – 1998) he accompanied every one of the religious of the Congregation. He also shared his deep spiritual experience as a Betharramite with the seminarians, priests, religious and married couples. He inspired so much trust! He could be Father, Brother, spiritual director, councillor to the married, pastor, companion, friend generously offering a helping hand all the time. There is one thing for sure that whoever appealed to him, whether former seminarians, priests, old people, the sick, the street children, received the advice and the help they were looking for. Nobody ever left empty handed. What a heart! He used to repeat: “The friend or the brother is the one who welcomes you and helps you even before you have called to him for help.” Father Rogelio had the privilege of discovering Mary and Joseph in their native land. He was chaplain to the Carmelites in Nazareth from 2002 – 2003 where he developed a deep Marial spirituality. Next he was appointed parish priest of the Sacred Heart Parish, just 7 km from Ciudad del Este (2004 – 2008), of St Francis Xavier de la Colmena (2009 – 11) of St Joseph d’Asuncion (2012). As well as this, he accepted responsibility as National Councillor for Christianity Studies. In the month of May, no sooner had he left the hospital than he was preaching a retreat for married couples. He used to say: "“As priests our first objective should be the evangelisation of the families and the formation of communities otherwise our faith will grow weaker if there is no community sharing".”
We can appreciate the priestly life of Fr Rogelio, the depth of his faith and his inner peace. We can also appreciate his charity, his sensitivity, his strength and fortitude in trials, his patience and wisdom in spiritual accompaniment. He derived all those qualities and virtues from the daily and prolonged visits to the Blessed Sacrament, the daily recitation of the Rosary and the reading of the Word of God. His love of Christ helped him to find in Scripture the project for God’s Kingdom. He used to say: "“If we read the Bible every day and put it into practice, we shall find the real way to happiness".” He was so convinced of this fact that he learned off by heart whole passages from the Bible which he would use in his sermons and his retreats. Of all this we are witnesses because we were present as were the countless married couples belonging to the Christianity Studies who received their spiritual formation at his school. His love and passion for life helped him in the unyielding struggle against the terrible pain due to his illness. By accepting God’s Will without the slightest complaint he gave us a necessary lesson and at the same time invited all Betharramite religious, as well as the laity to renew our fidelity to Jesus: “"It is worth while sacrificing everything to Jesus for his project for the Kingdom of God and his Justice"”.

Tarcisio Vera Acosta scj