"On Sunday, December 18, I witnessed a historic event for me as a believer in the Lord Jesus. I went to the celebration of Holy Mass at 12:00 to accompany a good man on such a special day, Don Agustín Monroy Rodríguez, who traveled from his parish in Santiago de Gáldar, in Gran Canaria, to his other parish, San Ginés, in Arrecife, to share with us and together with him give thanks to the Lord for being able to celebrate his Golden Wedding Anniversary.
Don Agustín Monroy Rodríguez was ordained a priest on December 17 in Tafira, Gran Canaria. He celebrated his First Solemn Mass on December 18, 1960 before the image of San Nicolás de Bari, in Sardina del Sur-Gran Canaria.
Don Agustín was born into a poor family and with many sacrifices they were able to pay his tuition to enter the seminary. In those years its value was about 150 pesetas. It was not easy to reach the end but his vocation and dedication could do more.
He overcame all the adversities that came his way. Once ordained a priest, he dedicated five years to teaching other young people, giving them classes at the Tafira seminary in Gran Canaria. Then he began his pilgrimage as a priest in the parish of Ntra. Sra. del Carmen in La Isleta-Gran Canaria, Ntra. Sra. del Rosario, in Puerto del Rosario, Fuerteventura, San Gregorio in Telde, Gran Canaria and San Ginés, in Arrecife. He was here for 11 years and is currently exercising his priestly mission in the parish of Santiago de Gáldar, in Gran Canaria.
During the 11 years that Don Agustín shared with us in the parish of San Ginés, he dedicated himself body and soul to always steer the helm in the right direction to make us good men and women. During these years he was a reference for me that knowing more does not make you better if you do not share it with others.
He also taught me to give thanks for the dawn of each day and not to give thanks for superfluous things, which at times if we do not know how to control ourselves lead us to be selfish and believe ourselves to be the best. In the 11 years that Don Agustín led the Parish of San Ginés, he participated in my Silver Wedding.
Consuelo and I got married on December 23, 1973 and Don Diego Monzón blessed our marriage. 25 years later we renewed our marriage commitment on December 23, 1998. On this occasion it was Don Agustín Monroy who blessed us in our "Silver Wedding".
It was very beautiful and simple. We participated in the Holy Mass together with our children and Don Agustín said some very beautiful words to us that are still very alive among us. For this and for so many moments, today I wanted to be a witness and be with Don Agustín Monroy on a very special day for him, in which he wanted to share with all of us who gathered at the church of San Ginés.
From this section I can only congratulate a "Good Man". To Don Agustín Monroy Rodríguez I thank him for all the good he taught me and, above all, for sharing the gifts that the Lord Jesus has placed in me, putting them at the service of others. I continue to fulfill this commitment and it makes me happier every day".
