Fr. Alberto Rodríguez López, OP

On March 10, 2023, Father Alberto Rodríguez López, OP, age 77, died at MD Anderson Hospital in Houston, Texas.  Father Alberto was born in Havana, Cuba, on December 5, 1945 the eldest of three children to Alberto Marcel Rodríguez y Sánchez and Yolanda Margarita López y Emanelli of Camagüey, Cuba.  At the age of 16, Fr. Alberto moved to the United States for studies.  In 1964 Fr. Alberto entered the novitiate of the Order of Preachers (the Dominican Friars), Province of Bética.  He professed simple vows on September 23, 1965, studied theology in Seville, Spain, and was ordained a priest on July 3, 1971, at the Dominikanerkloster St. Albert in Walberberg, Germany.  After ordination he pursued a doctoral degree at the University of Cologne, Germany, and briefly taught in Seville before returning to the United States in 1977.  He served as Parochial Vicar of St. Rocco Parish, Union City, NJ (1977-78), Director of Hispanic Cursillo and Charismatic Renewal, St. Petersburg, FL (1978-81), chaplain at Moncrief Army Hospital and Director of Hispanic Ministry, Fort Jackson, SC (1981-83).  He served as pastor of Holy Cross Parish, Atlanta, GA (1983-86), St. Dominic Parish, Miami, FL (1986-1993; 2003-2015), parochial vicar and then parish administrator of Holy Rosary Parish, Houston, TX (2016-2020), where he was diagnosed with cancer and continued to live until his death.  Fr. Alberto also served for 9 years as the prior provincial of the Dominican Province of St. Martin de Porres in the Southern US (1993-2002). 

Fr. Alberto was proud to serve on the Historical Commission for the Beatification and Canonization of the Florida Martyrs and was involved in the process until his death.  He loved cooking elaborate and delicious meals for his community, family, and loved ones.  He is preceded in death by his parents and younger sister, Yolanda, who died only a week before him.  He is survived by his younger brother Eduardo of Camagüey, Cuba, his nephews and niece and their families.  He will be fondly remembered and dearly missed by his Dominican brothers and sisters, his family with whom he was very close, and the many faithful that he served throughout his 52-year ministry as a priest. 

Friends and family are invited to gather for Visitation and to pray the Office of the Dead at 7 o’clock in the evening, Wednesday, March 15, 2023, at Holy Rosary Parish, 3617 Milam St., Houston.  Viewing will continue from 9 o’clock in the morning, Thursday, March 16, 2023, at Holy Rosary, followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 10 o’clock.  Burial will take place at a later date at the Dominican Cemetery at Rosaryville, Ponchatoula, Louisiana.