{"id":113631,"date":"2025-07-03T13:54:38","date_gmt":"2025-07-03T11:54:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lasalle.org\/?p=113631"},"modified":"2025-07-03T13:55:19","modified_gmt":"2025-07-03T11:55:19","slug":"in-memoriam-br-martin-rocha-pedrajo-1963-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lasalle.org\/en\/in-memoriam-br-martin-rocha-pedrajo-1963-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"In Memoriam: Br. Mart\u00edn Rocha Pedrajo (1963 – 2025)"},"content":{"rendered":"
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On the evening of Sunday 29 June, the day on which the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, <\/span>Brother Mart\u00edn Rocha Pedrajo, former Bursar General of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools until 2024, was called to the Father\u2019s House at the age of 62. <\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>

A magnanimous Brother<\/b><\/h2><\/div>

“We remember with great fondness and deep gratitude our dear Br. Martin here in the <\/span>Casa Generalizia<\/span><\/i> in Rome. The warmth of his friendship and his cheerfulness of heart bring solace to our grief and the assurance that his presence lingers on”, expresses Brother Armin Luistro, Superior General of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, in his message of condolence to Brother Martin’s family and to the Brothers of the District of Antilles – Mexico South. “Brother Martin was a prudent steward of Institute patrimony\u2026 and a magnanimous Brother to those who had the privilege to work and live with him,” remarks Brother Superior General.<\/span><\/p>\n

For his part, Brother Rafael Cer\u00f3n, General Councillor of the Institute, also expressed on behalf of the Council the feelings of “deep sorrow” for the departure of Brother Mart\u00edn, but also of “sincere gratitude”, because “his presence leaves an indelible mark in the hearts of those of us who had the privilege of knowing him and sharing his journey”. “His life was a testimony of service, friendship and unconditional generosity”, comments Brother Rafael, recalling that “his smile and his sincere, searching gaze reflected the depth of his being”.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

“He was always ready to give without expecting anything in return”, continues the General Councillor, pointing out that Br. Mart\u00edn “sowed great good in the lives of many people, offering moments of attentive listening in which he was able to calm more than one storm”. Likewise, in highlighting his responsible and dedicated service as Bursar General of the Institute, the General Councillor notes that “his calm steps were a constant encouragement to move forward”. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

A life of commitment and service<\/b><\/h2><\/div>

Brother Mart\u00edn Rocha Pedrajo was born in the city of San Luis Potos\u00ed, in the central region of Mexico, on 28 May 1963. Within his home, together with his parents Antonio Rocha Jasso and Mar\u00eda Guadalupe Pedrajo Pulido, he was brought up and acquired the human and Christian values that characterised him throughout his life.<\/span><\/p>\n

He met the Brothers of the Christian Schools as a student at <\/span>Universidad La Salle Baj\u00edo,<\/span><\/i> where he studied Tourism Business Administration between 1978 and 1981. The following year, in 1982, he entered the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

His initial formation as a Religious Brother took place in Mexico City. He took the habit of the Brothers of the Christian Schools on 15 August 1982. A year later, on 15 August 1983, he professed his first vows and pronounced his perpetual vows on 13 August 1989.<\/span><\/p>\n

During those years, between 1982 and 1986, he also studied for a Degree in Religious Sciences at <\/span>Universidad La Salle<\/span><\/i> in Mexico. Later, from 2005 to 2007, he studied for a Master’s Degree in Humanist Education at the <\/span>Universidad Iberoamericana<\/span><\/i>. He also studied in various fields of the Theology of Religious Life and Administration.<\/span><\/p>\n

He was widely recognised for his service and commitment to the Lasallian Mission in Mexico, in the Lasallian Region of Latin America (RELAL) and in the Institute, assuming various leadership roles throughout his career. From teacher and secondary school head at <\/span>Colegio Crist\u00f3bal Col\u00f3n Lomas Verdes<\/span><\/i> (1986 – 1987) and Sub-Director of the Scholasticate and responsible for vocations ministry in the then District of South Mexico (1988 – 1990), to Vice-Rector for Formation at <\/span>Universidad La Salle <\/span><\/i>(1998 – 2007), of which he was also its President from 2009 to 2011, although he had previously served as Deputy Director of the Preparatory School and as Pastoral Ministry Coordinator (1991 – 1997). He was also the Community Director of the <\/span>Universidad de La Salle<\/span><\/i>\u00a0 for twelve years.<\/span><\/p>\n

In 2011 he was appointed Visitor of the District of Antilles-South Mexico, a position he held until 2017, when he became President\u00a0 of the <\/span>Universidad La Salle Baj\u00edo<\/span><\/i> for two years.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As of January 2019, Brother Mart\u00edn assumed, by order of the Superior General of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, the post of Bursar General of the Institute, in which he served until 2024, leaving a legacy of service and humanism. “We must fill the economy of humanity so that it stops being such a mechanical task, and we can really give it a human face,” he said, stressing that “our great challenge is to know how to be brothers to one another, to be present from our fraternity, to know how to ‘waste time’ with people” (watch video).<\/span><\/p>\n

On his return to Mexico, Brother Mart\u00edn became the President of the <\/span>Universidad La Salle Puebla <\/span><\/i>and the Director General of <\/span>Colegio La Salle Benavente<\/span><\/i>, also in Puebla, where he passed away on 29 June.<\/span><\/p>\n

Recalling the biblical text which says, “Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ” (Jn 17:3), Brother Jos\u00e9 Francisco Flores, Visitor of the District of Antilles – Mexico South, states that “his life is summed up in this short verse from the Gospel of Saint John, because he understood from a very young age that eternal life consisted in making known the one true God and Jesus Christ whom he sent, always in the context of his vocation as an educator and disciple of Saint John Baptist de La Salle”. “We commend his spirit to God through the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe”.<\/span><\/p>\n

“His life was a clear image of his deep affection and devotion to Saint Mutien-Marie, whom he considered an example of life and a distinguished follower of Christ,” recalls Brother Rafael Cer\u00f3n. “We are comforted to know that his presence remains and that his legacy of goodness will continue to inspire others. \u201cMay the Father of Mercy welcome Brother Mart\u00edn to Paradise with a fraternal embrace, so that he can enjoy a truly Mexican fiesta in eternity,” expresses Br Armin Luistro.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

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To thank God for his life and to pay a heartfelt tribute to Br. Mart\u00edn Rocha Pedrajo, the District of Antilles – Mexico South celebrated several Eucharists on Monday 30 June (funeral Mass) and on Tuesday 1 July, when his cremation took place. On Thursday, July 3, a Mass with the presence of his ashes will be celebrated at the Colegio La Salle Benavente, in Puebla, at 11:00 a.m.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>