Father Ralph B. Rogawski, O.P.
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Father Ralph B. Rogawski, O.P.

  • April 3, 1934 - February 6, 2012
  • Austin, Texas
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“God Bless You on your journey home.For all you did while you were here there will be room well prepared. ”
1 of 17 | Posted by: Ray and Richard Rogawski - IL

“"My good and faithful servant, you ran a good race". May you rest in peace. My condolances to the Dominican Family. Sincerely, Mary Helen...Read More » ”
2 of 17 | Posted by: Mary H. Martinez - San Antonio, TX

“God Bless Father Ralph. So many wonderful memories that our family will cherish. We were fortunate to have spent time together last spring. We are...Read More » ”
3 of 17 | Posted by: Annette Rogawski Miller and family - IL

“Fr. Ralph - You did so much for all of us you served. Your years working with the Spanish-speaking communities of Latin America and the US were spent...Read More » ”
4 of 17 | Posted by: John Waukechon - Round Rock, TX

“To an integral man, a small obituary. You elected to forgo the riches and desires to minister to the hispanic community. A community that was not...Read More » ”
5 of 17 | Posted by: rudolph Zapata - austin, TX

“Now securely in the arms of our loving God, may Father Ralph enjoy ever more fullness of life. May the Lay Dominican teams he and others began...Read More » ”
6 of 17 | Posted by: Yvonne Feeney O.P. - Sinsinawa , WI

“Rest In Peace, Dear Father Ralph! I know the Lord has called you to an even greater mission in heaven, and we rejoice with you, our spiritual guide,...Read More » ”
7 of 17 | Posted by: Cristina Ramos - Kyle, TX

“I will always remember how you would visit when I was young. I didn't understand that you were a priest and my sister and I would ask you where your...Read More » ”
8 of 17 | Posted by: Elaine Rogawski Pontone - NJ

“We will miss your summer visits to our home. We always looked forward to seeing you, and catching up on the latest news. We'll never forget...Read More » ”
9 of 17 | Posted by: ALICIA & PAUL ROGAWSKI - IL

“I have great memories of Ralph in the Rio Grande Valley as well as Georgetown, and Austin. A great preacher, an active comtemplative, and a good...Read More » ”
10 of 17 | Posted by: LouAnne Willette, OP - MN

“We're reminded of St. Paul's letter in 2 Tim 4. Fr. Ralph has finished the race; he has faithfully kept & passed on the torch of faith, proclaiming...Read More » ”
11 of 17 | Posted by: Jeanne Brunet - Round Rock, TX

“Father Ralph will always be in my prayers. I feel like I have a friend in heaven. God's blessings and peace forever. ”
12 of 17 | Posted by: Shirley Moerbe, O.P. - Burnet, TX

“Fr. Ralph was the mentor and moderator of our Dominican Laity Group in Rockdale. He was our guide, councilor, and most important, our friend whom we...Read More » ”
13 of 17 | Posted by: Ms. Gloria Thrasher, OP - TX

“We were saddened to hear of Fr. Ralph's passing. It is so hard to believe as we see his smiling face in the picture. Fr. Ralph spent several...Read More » ”
14 of 17 | Posted by: Sylvia & Robert Michalewicz - TX

“With deep sympathy and loving prayers to Sr. Helen Marie, Sr. Marjery Race and the Dominican Fathers on the loss of their friend and brother. Father...Read More » ”
15 of 17 | Posted by: Sister Christa Cunningham, OP - FL

“In the name of all of the Dominican Sisters of Racine WI I send blessings, condolences and love to Ralph's family members, to the Dominican Friars of...Read More » ”
16 of 17 | Posted by: Ruthanne Reed - Racine, WI

“Father Ralph has been a blessing in my life. One of his blessings was that he was able to preach by example to my father who needed to spark his...Read More » ”
17 of 17 | Posted by: Isabel Aneyba - Austin, TX


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Father Ralph Rogawski, O.P. was called into the loving arms of God on February 6, 2012. He was born on April 3, 1934 and ministered fifty-two years as a missionary priest. After working sixteen years in Latin America in Bolivia, Columbia, Venezuela, Peru, Mexico and Puerto Rico he returned to the United States to minister among the Hispanic community in more than thirty-five states. He resided in the Rio Grande Valley for fifteen years and in 1992 came to Austin. He co-founded the Dominican Missionary Preaching Team in 1992. Three of his sisters Adele Lauer, Elaine LaMaster, and Sister Karen Rogawski, O.P. preceded him in death. Two other sisters Marcella Rogawski and Gertrude Rogawski live in Fort Wayne, Indiana as well as several generations of nieces and nephews. His fifty-two years of preaching and missionary labors have deeply touched the lives of thousands of people.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 pm – 6:30 pm on Thursday, February 9, 2012 at San Jose Catholic Church, 2435 Oak Crest, followed by a Vigil Service at 6:30 pm. The Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 am on Friday, February 10, 2012 at San Jose Catholic Church. Interment will be held at 9:30 am on Friday, February 17, 2012 at Dominican Friars Cemetery in Rosaryville, Louisiana.

Memorials may be made to Southern Dominican Province, 1421 North Causeway Blvd, Suite 200, Metairie, Louisiana 70001.

40 Years of Community Preaching
"Setting the World on Fire"

To other towns I must announce the Good News of the Reign of God because that is why I was sent (Luke 4:43).

On a hot, muggy night in 1972, three of us, Don Pedro Mendoza, who was the parish gardener; Father Ralph Rogawski, OP; and I walked the dusty road about two miles to Barrio Pillin in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. The people had invited us to come out to their destitute shantytown to share our faith with them. After a wonderful evening of singing and mutually sharing the Gospel of John with one another, the group of 80 adults insisted we return for four more evenings. At the end of the week, a small faith community began to meet with their own leadership, and the people sent us on to the next neighborhood. Thus the itinerant Dominican Missionary Preaching Team was born. This double blessing was the result of community preaching under a thatched roof. The interna¬tional team made up of Dominican priests, sisters, and laity has continued responding to invitations in other neighborhoods in eight countries and over 35 states during the next 40 years.

The cofounders of the team are Sister Guadalupe Soria, OP; Brother Tim Wrinn, OP (1925–2006); Father Ralph; and myself. Other members have included Fathers Pat Rearden, OP; R. B. Williams, OP; Brian Pierce, OP; and Ray Corr, OP (deceased), as well as Sister Glenda Rodriguez, OP (Maria Pilar, 1937–2004); Sister Ruthanne Reed, OP; and members of several other religious congregations. At present we are three members: Sister Margery Race, OP (Geraud); Fr. Ralph; and myself. We are often accompanied in our team approach of evangelical preaching by some of the 50 lay Dominicans who meet monthly in four communities in central Texas.

The ministry of the Word is the foundation of our Dominican spirituality. Our community preaching flows out of our daily prayer life, both personal and liturgical, as well as praying and studying with many groups of people, especially our extended community of Dominican laity.

Through the years, we have had a tradition of reflecting as a community on our activities to see what God is doing among the people with whom we minister and live. With the Domini¬can laity we have an annual study and leadership development day during which all are encouraged in a bilingual (Spanish and English) process to reflect on their life experiences in light of the Gospel. The content of the day and of our preaching is based on the faith experiences of the laity.

We have promoted several Preaching Days to help the Do¬minican laity develop well-prepared talks and enhance their preaching skills. Each member is expected to name his or her ministry of the Word before making a lifetime commit¬ment to the Order.

I have sat at the feet as a disciple and learned from women and men who have had very little formal education. Their wisdom and faith flow from their deep, contemplative prayer life. Suffering has honed them into being praxis theologians who continually reflect on the movement of the Spirit in their lives. They are part of our preaching community when they speak during the parish missions and retreats. Laity also preach on parish and retreat teams, lead the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), and lead Bible studies. In their respective parishes some are catechists, musicians, and liturgists. Others carry out their ministry of the Word beyond their parishes by participating in lay movements, working with small communi¬ties in the neighborhoods, and writing on the Internet.

Our sister, Catherine of Siena, OP, said, "Preach as if you had a million voices. It is silence that kills the world. Be the person God calls you to be, and you will set the world on fire." I consider it a profound blessing to be part of a Dominican preaching commu¬nity all these years. It is a privilege to be immersed in the ministry of the Gospel while accompanying others as they claim their baptismal vocation and, in turn, announce the Good News.

Sister Helen Marie Raycraft, OP (Helena)