Maraming Salamat – Brother Al Rosales
As you prepare to embark on your new journey back to the Philippines, we, as community wanted to express how much you will be missed. Your dedicated service as a lector and commentator has been such a gift to us all; the care and reverence you brought to the readings helped bring the Word of God to life in the liturgy.
Thank you for your friendship and for the beautiful example of faith you’ve shared with us. While we are sad to see you go, we are excited for this new chapter in your life. May God bless you abundantly in your travels and in all your new endeavors. Please know you will always have a home with us in our prayers.
Wishing you safe travels and every blessing,
Here is his message to the community where he delivered during our mass in the Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time. 14. June 2026.
Good afternoon everyone. Thank you Father for the kind words.
I first settled in this church on the 27th of November 2022. That’s the week after I joined the Philippines Consulate General in Frankfurt. Time flies.
Now I am saying my goodbyes. Well, the life of a diplomat like me is a series of hellos and goodbyes. Hellos characterized by gladness, excitement, expectations, hope. And goodbyes characterized by pain, anxiety, fear, despair. I have gone through this many times, several times. And just the usual activity of saying or being welcome, saying your goodbyes and being sent off.
So I thought, today’s event is no different but I am wrong. I have come to love this church so much. It has become my refuge for the four years that I’ve been here in Frankfurt. I have come to love and care for the people who come to this church. My fellow parishioners, my fellow Filipino, community members.
And I have come to love and admire my officemates, and for this, I am so grateful to all of you. Today, or this Sunday, will be my last Sunday mass in this church. And perhaps, the last time I am seeing you.
If you happen to visit the Philippines, please dont hesitate to call me and perhaps we can have cups of coffee at Starbucks or have some glasses of beer while walking down the memory lane. reminiscing The good old days in Frankfurt. Well as the saying goes, life goes on.
And life faithfully observes a cycle. It’s God-given cycle. We are born to live, trying to live the best of life and we go on. The pain, the fear, the agony I have today will of course gradually and eventually lie down when I go home to the Philippines. But one thing will remain certain, the memories, we build together in this church. Through the many activities that we participated in. Mga birthday celebrations sa Halle. in Hatay. Pabinggo. The occasional ‘for the boys’. Mga activities natin sa loob ng simbahan, sinulog, santakrusan, all of these.
These memories will forever live in my heart. And the love we have showered on me . The respect and kindness will always be remembered and treasured.
I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude. Thank you, friends, for being there. Thank you for showing me kindness, respect, love and care.
You make me smile when the days are gray and help me find a brighter way. Through happy times and moments stopped, your friendship means amore than enough. I am grateful for all that you do. My life in Frankfurt has been great because of you.
Salamat po.
~Brother Al Rosales,
Diplomat, Philipine Consulate General – Frankfurt