Fr Neil Rodriguez CSSp, shepherd of the flock of the Holy Trinity Parish, was ordained priest, in the Order of the Holy Ghost Fathers on July 8, 1962 . After his ordination he went to Ireland , for one year to complete his pastoral formation.

On his return to Trinidad in 1963, Fr Neil was assigned to the College of the Immaculate Conception (CIC) where he was one of the college's Masters of Studies.

Subsequent to this posting, Fr Rodriguez once more left our shores, this time for Paraguay. There, as a missionary he lived among the people tending to the flock that God had entrusted to him, nurturing their faith during most difficult times, and shaping their community with his pastoral care and service. This assignment lasted seven years, after which time he returned to Trinidad .

Since his return, Fr Neil has served in several parishes, including: Rio Claro , Coryal, Sangre Grande, La Horquetta, St. John's and the Holy Trinity Parish with its five communities.

Fr Rodriguez has twice served as parish priest at Holy Trinity: the first time from 1978-1987. He returned to the parish in 2003. In this role he also assumed the duties of formation director for seminarians at Tisserant House.

Many will recall the fervour with which Fr Neil endeavoured to ensure that his flock fulfilled “the will of God, their sanctification.” He acquired a minibus for the parish. We fondly reminisce on the times when PAP 1933 made several trips transporting parishioners to and from Mass.

Fr Neil introduced Life in the Spirit and Gifts of the Spirit Seminars, and in 1979 began a Healing Ministry, which still continues.

We remember Father in his more youthful years. Attired in his safety gear, he rode on his motor bike throughout the length and breadth of the country hastening to attend to the needs of his people, whether he had to visit the sick, comfort the afflicted, administer the last rites or perform any other corporal or spiritual work of mercy. Sadly though, this means of transportation ended when he was involved in a vehicular accident.

Youth evangelization has always been viewed as essential to the life and sustenance of the Church. With the assistance of Fr Ron Mendes CSSp, Fr Neil brought the COR Retreat for the first time to the parish.

Later on he introduced Youth 2000 —an international Youth Movement that seeks to bring young adults together to share their faith and to renew and strengthen their love of Jesus Christ and the Holy Eucharist.

Fr Rodriguez has also offered spiritual guidance to Youth for Christ—another outreach to young Catholics—for several years. This body, whose watchwords are faith, fun, fellowship and freedom, continues to be blessed by his guidance and influence.

In his desire to strengthen bonds within the family unit, Fr Neil continues to work zealously with the Marriage Encounter and Engaged Encounter Movements in Trinidad and Tobago . As a foundation member of Engaged Encounter, he has devoted more than 20 years of service to helping couples prepare for married life.

Our beloved pastor also played an instrumental role in the initiation of Couples for Christ (CFC). Members of both CFC and Teams of Our Lady have been blessed by his foresight, spiritual direction and wisdom. These ministries focus on married couples, assisting them to develop their particular spirituality, and to live out their sacrament of love, commitment and holiness.

Fr Neil Rodriguez

Appointed by the late Archbishop Anthony Pantin as the official exorcist of the Church, Fr Rodriguez has served tirelessly and selflessly in this role.

On his return to the Holy Trinity Parish in 2003, Fr Neil revived the COR Retreat in the Tacarigua Community. In 2004, the rest of the parish revisited the COR Retreat.

Since it was oversubscribed, in 2004, the retreat could cater only to the more senior youth of these communities. In his outreach to the Catholic schools under his pastoral governance, Fr Rodriguez celebrate d the Eucharist for those schools each month and met monthly with principals and staff.

Stewardship, family life, ministry to youth, social action and conscientisation are issues that he views to be critical to the life of the Church. He is ever mindful to give credit to Fr Pat Bascio for all the assistance he has rendered in making parishioners aware of social issues, and aiding us as Catholics to work towards a more just society.

For the work with youth of the parish Fr Rodriguez is deeply grateful to Fr Benedict Iheagwara and Bro Nyron Rollingson. Their dedication, kindness and vision have secured many successes.

As Father says, “Someone sows, another waters, and still another reaps.” He firmly believes that the Holy Spirit will continue what was begun and God will give the increase.

This is Fr Neil Rodriguez anointed by God in the Sacrament of Holy Orders who having put his hands to the plough continues to run his course with distinction.

When Fr Neil met with group leaders of Holy Trinity Parish for the first time, he asked them to read Exodus 18:13-27 in its entirety. He then told them that in managing the parish he was embracing—in its entirety—the advice of Jethro to Moses:

“ It is not right… to take this on yourself. You will tire yourself out, you and the people with you. The work is too heavy for you. You cannot do it alone… But choose from the people some capable and God-fearing men (and women), trustworthy and incorruptible, and appoint them as leaders of the people… ”

There was silence, and the response was varied: Many did not readily understand the meaning of this: some scoffed, some were puzzled, and many turned away, reminiscent of the response of Jesus' followers (John 6: 59 -60).

But, while parishioners struggled to make meaning of this new dispensation, Fr Neil persevered with his responsibility: “to represent the people before God…” In his free time he could be found always before the Blessed Sacrament, and many followed his example.

An astute teacher, Father, taught his parishioners to love the Eucharist. We learnt to develop our listening skills as he delivered his homilies and other relevant teachings.

We were forced to do our own research since he responded to critical questions by presenting the inquirer with a book, document or encyclical. His lessons may be encapsulated from this adaptation from Proverbs 4: 11-13:

I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you on the path of virtue; when you walk your steps will not falter, and when you run your feet will not stumble; keep hold of Wisdom and guard her for she is life.

Although an excellent student, Fr Neil knew he was not the fount of knowledge, and on many projects or critical issues he sought out, among the parishioners, those with the skills, expertise and experience that would help him to make the right decisions.

His fragile health and small stature belied the sharpness of his tongue, which many of his opponents came to realize to their chagrin. But there were the “Kodak” moments: One had to see Fr Neil's interactions with the candidates and catechumens of the RCIA to understand that he had a beautiful, loving nature; his appreciative smile when the young dancers blew kisses to him as their dance ended will surely be remembered as a high-point of this evening's farewell celebration.

Fr Neil Rodriguez gave the gift of himself, a truth which many of us will only realise long after he has left Holy Trinity. He always made himself available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. He was gentle and understanding and in the confessional his healing touch won many a heart to God.

We were always exhorted to sit in front of the Blessed Sacrament after Confession. God does not make mistakes, so we know that his assignment was inspired.

Fr Neil, The five communities thank you for your pastoral care and we send you away with this prayer

May your mind be enlightened by God's wisdom; your soul be enriched with his goodness; your life be touched by his kindness and your heart be blessed with his love, as you enter this new phase of your priestly life.