Fr. Alejandro Rabanal, CSC, the son of (Late) Mr. Francisco B. Rabanal and (Late) Mrs. Maria Raborar from the village of Alaminos Pangasina, Philippines. They are eight brothers and sisters in the family. He is the only son of the family and his date of birth is January 11, 1934. He was baptized at St. Joseph Church, Alaminos, Pangasinan, Philipines. He studied at Barrio Bisocol, Elementary School, and at Alaminosigh School. He finished his college studies at Araneta University Foundation. After that, he received a master of Science in Agronomy in 1969 from Araneta University, Foundation. First, he came to Bangladesh as an agriculture teacher, officer, and researcher in about the 1950 century also after the liberation war of Bangladesh as well. Then, he got a new vocation of Holy Cross Congregation to serve God and the people of God being a priest leaving behind everything. He entered Holy Cross Novitiate, Barisal on October 24, 1983, and received his first profession on October 26, 1984. Then, he pronounced his final profession on September 19, 1987. After that, he was ordained as a deacon on September 20, 1987, and ordained as a priest on January 18, 1988, at Jalchatra Parish, Madhupur, Mymensingh. As a priest, he got different assignments, which are the following-
1988-1989 – Assistant Parish Priest, Corpus Christi Parish, Jalchatra
1998-1999 – Assistant Parish Priest, Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Gournodi, Barisal
1990-1993 – Parish Priest, at Corpus Christi Parish, Jalchatra
1994-1995 – Parish Priest at Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Gournodi, Barisa
1995-1996 – Parish Priest at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Noakhali, Chattrogram
1996-1997 – Parish Priest at Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Gournodi, Barisal
1999-2011 – Parish Priest at St. George’s Parish, Mariamnagar, Mymensingh
2011-2013 – Priest In-Charge and Founder of St. Andre Bessette Parish, Diglakona, Mymensingh
2013-2016 – Retirement and residence at St. Andre Bessette Parish, Diglakona, Mymensingh
2016-2018 – Retirement and residence at St. George’s Parish, Mariamnagar, Mymensingh
2018-2022 – Retirement and residence at Moreau House, Banasree, Rampura, Dhaka
Finally, on April 3, 2022, he expired at St. John Mary Viyanny Hospital at 11:00 A.M. being under treatment. On the same day, his dead body was brought to the Moreau House, Rampura, Dhaka. In the evening His Excellency Cardinal Patrick D’ Rozario, CSC, offered a mass for him along with Provincial of Sacred Heart of Jesus Province, Bangladesh, Rev. Fr. George Kamal, Rozario, CSC, and vice-provincial Rev. Fr. Sushanto A. Gomes, CSC. At the mass Holy Cross Family members (Fathers, Brothers, Sisters, and Seminarians) and also well-wishers were present there. After the mass, his dead body was brought to the Cathedral Church, Ramna, Dhaka. Rev. Fr. Swapan Das, CSC, and some of our seminarians were the whole night with the dead body in a prayerful atmosphere. The following day, on April 4, 2022, Most Rev. Arch Bishop Bejoy N.D. Cruze, OMI (Arch Bishop of Dhaka Metro Politan) offered a mass for him at the Cathedral Church, Ramna, Dhaka. After the mass, his body was brought to the Bhadun Pastoral Retreat Centre for burial. Most Rev. Bishop Ponen Paul Kubi, CSC, (Bishop of Mymensingh Diocese) presided over the funeral mass along with Most Rev. Bishop Sebastian Tudu (Bishop of Dinajpur Diocese) and Provincial Rev. Fr. George Kamal Rozario, CSC at Bhadun Chapel at 11:00 A.M. Holy Cross priests, brothers, sisters, seminarians from different communities and also from other communities’ sisters, priests, and especially faithful from Mariamnagar, Diglakona, Jalchatra, and Pirgacha parish were present there as well. After the mass, his dead body was taken to the graveyard and buried with burial rituals. We hope that he is now in heaven with God for eternity. Pray for his eternal rest in peace.
