Rev Fr Anthony Roddy, OP passed away in Ireland on Sunday February 25, 2007. He was laid to rest in Ireland on March 1.

Fr Roddy faithfully served the Archdiocese of Port of Spain as parish priest throughout Trinidad and Tobago leaving a lasting positive contribution on the parish landscape and making a tremendous impact on the parishioners of these parishes. 

He is particularly remembered for his incredible ability to motivate the laity, together with an extraordinary vitality, which almost like a moving spirit won the hearts of all his people including the youth. He was a truly hospitable man and great conversationalist.

He gave loyal dedicated service in the vineyard of the Lord.  For over three decades he served in several parishes including Pointe–à–Pierre, Tortuga, San Rafael, Carenage, Gonzales and Delaford. For a while he lived in Holy Cross Priory, Arima, and in his final years in the Dominican House of Formation, St Joseph.

Fr Anthony Roddy, OP

Fr Roddy was born in Lisgarve, Elphin, Ireland, on March 26, 1919, to John and Winifred Roddy and was blessed with seven siblings, four brothers (all deceased) and three sisters, Mary (USA), Margaret (England) and Theresa (Ireland). 

Fr Roddy received his early childhood education in Ireland attending Elphin Secondary School then to St Mary’s, Tallaght followed by Newbridge College where he pursued courses in history, language and administration. He spent quite a portion of his life in Rome (1950–1972) in dedicated service as a Dominican Brother.

There he also studied Roman History, Italian and Spanish. In his later years he attended the Regional Seminary of St John Vianney and the Uganda Martyrs and was ordained as a priest in Trinidad on December 15, 1982.

On September 1, 1984, he was appointed parish priest of San Rafael where he made an immense contribution to the building up of the Church, both in a physical and spiritual sense.

He was able to harness the physical and human resources of the parish to bring about major renovations and refurbishing of the Church, bringing new life by regenerating the spirit of togetherness, co–operation and determination with a strong Catholic ethos.

At St Martin de Porres Church in Gonzales, during his six-year pastoral leadership of effective management and administration, he left a hallmark of physical improvement to the presbytery and Church which was greatly enhanced as an environment for sacred and prayerful worship. 

His style of cooperation and collaboration led to the growth of lay leadership of the parish and growth in the celebration of the patronal feast and family days.
In Delaford likewise he left a fantastic legacy also rebuilding the presbytery in his short tenure.  Fr Roddy was indeed a worthy exemplar of a Dominican priest to all he served.

His hardworking, faithful dedication and achievement will certainly be remembered.
St Dominic will certainly be proud of this faithful loyal servant of the Lord.
One remembers, and certainly he virtually epitomised, his favorite invocation : “All for Thee O Jesus, Oh my Jesus, all for Thee”

May Fr Roddy enjoy eternal happiness with the Lord.