We quote this verse from Luke 2:29: “Now Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to Your word…” We choose this verse as we bid farewell to our beloved BLD Community Spiritual Director, Archbishop Angel N. Lagdameo, D.D., Archbishop-Emeritus of Jaro.
Our beloved BLD Community Spiritual Director for 22 years is now home with his Creator and being welcomed, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful… enter into the joy of the Master.” (Mt 25:23). He left us on July 8, 2022 and was laid to rest inside the Jaro Cathedral, Our Lady of the Candles, on July 19, 2022. For 9 days before, we offered novena prayers and Holy Masses for the eternal repose of his soul
The entire Bukas Loob sa Diyos Catholic Charismatic Covenant Community in the Philippines, Hong Kong, Canada and USA has been in deep sadness, mourning the passing away of our dear Archbishop Angel. He served as our global Spiritual Director from February 1998 until January 2020. He took over the pastoral baton from our first Spiritual Director Founder, Fr. Pascual “Ado” Adorable, then passed it on to his successor now, Bishop Reynaldo Evangelista. When he signified his retirement as spiritual director, it was his insistent personal choice to have Bishop Rey Evangelista, Bishop of Imus, succeed him.
Many words have been said about Archbishop Angel. Each description, encounter and experience with him only speaks of his goodness and kindness. He was and continue to be God’s gift to our Community, Bukas Loob sa Diyos. Truly, his powerful homilies, his counsels, his gentleness, his humor, and most especially his prayers, touched all of us one way or the other.
We thank the Lord for giving us Archbishop Angel who lived up to his calling as our Pastor. He was our perfect shepherd in the image of Jesus Christ, our Good Shepherd. We will continue to celebrate his well-lived life as God’s faithful servant through our own lives. He lived by example. He showed us how to seek God’s presence by his spirituality, gentleness and caring. He taught us to be always grateful and hopeful. And encouraged us to persevere in our mission. Thus, one of his happiest moments with BLD is the publishing of our coffee table book which he entitled: 30 Years of BLD – A Continuing Journey of Faith, Hope and Love. He called for the review of the BLD Statutes which was finally approved by the CBCP on January 21, 2016, giving the BLD Community the juridic personality as association of Christ’s faithful.
We praise and thank the Lord for the call to serve and know Him more, through the inspiring life of Archbishop Angel N. Lagdameo. Archbishop Angel, pray for us.
The Council of Servant Leaders
List of Eulogies and Tributes for Archbishop Lagdameo
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZu49UUTah6nMrnzkOlZ-96aRDE1XQ3WN
