American Jesuit missionary who served the Philippine Church in the field of catechesis died on November 28

Jesuit Father Joseph L. Roche died peacefully at the Jesuit Health and Wellness Center, Quezon City, Philippines. He was 94 years old, according to a communiqué from the Society of Jesus Philippines.

His health had been declining in recent weeks, and he was being treated for pneumonia.

The wake was held in the Oratory of St. Ignatius, Loyola House of Studies, Loyola Heights. The funeral Mass was held on December 2, followed by the interment in the Province Cemetery at Sacred Heart Novitiate.

Father Roche was born in Brooklyn, New York, on June 14, 1928. He joined the Society of Jesus on  September 7, 1945 and was ordained a priest on June 21, 1958.

After his regency at Ateneo de Cagayan in 1949, he pursued further studies abroad and returned to the Philippines to assume teaching posts at the Ateneo de Manila University’s Philosophy and Theology Departments, the Loyola School of Theology, and the Mother of Life Catechetical Institute.

He has taught generations of Ateneo undergraduate and graduate students. He was brilliant and incisive.

He generously founded the Formation Institute for Religion Educators (FIRE) in 1979 to offer opportunities for graduate education that would help religion teachers and catechists be of better service to their students, the church, and Philippine society.

This is a master’s program that provides catechists and religion teachers with high-quality professional formation. The program’s vision has been to raise the quality of Catholic religious education and catechesis in the Philippines, a predominately Catholic nation in Asia, followed by East Timor.

To all his students and alumni, he is most of all a brilliant and incisive teacher who believed in the importance of a relevant theological and religious education. He challenged students to be their best and was a beloved mentor to many teachers today, whom he motivated to think, write, and teach rigorously and passionately.

His contributions to the creation of the Catechism for Filipino Catholics (1997), the National Catechetical Directory for the Philippines (1985 and 2007) are likewise a testament to his service to the Philippine Church in the field of catechesis.

Pope Benedict XVI bestowed on him the "Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice" (For Church and Pope") award in 2006 in recognition of his distinguished service to the church. It is an honour awarded by the Pope to members of the clergy and laity for service to the church.

His efforts have helped many people grow in communion and intimacy with Jesus.