The Lasallian Family celebrates the feast of Blessed José Cecilio, the patron of the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology every November 16.

Life and Journey

Brother José Cecilio (Bonifacio Rodríguez González), born May 14, 1885 in La Molina de Ubierna, Spain, entered the novitiate November 21, 1901, was martyred in Spain, August-September 1936 and beatified October 10, 1993. He was one of the 7 Blessed Martyrs of Almería.

Shortly after the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936, the Popular Front in the Province of Almería gave orders to arrest all enemies of the revolution, especially priests and the religious. Five of the Brothers were arrested from their school, two were arrested in the street while on their way to mail letters to their families.

Along with many others, including two bishops, these prisoners were confined in a series of makeshift prisons where they were subjected to privation, mistreatment and ridicule. On the night of August 29, the two bishops, along with 15 others, were taken to an isolated spot where they were lined up and shot.

On the next night, August 30, Brothers Edmigio, Amalio, and Valerio were taken to the outskirts of Tabernas, where they were shot in the head and their bodies thrown into a deep well. On September 8, Brothers Evencio and Teodomiro were shot near the roadside, where their bodies were left. Brothers Aurelio and José met a similar fate on September 12, their bodies also thrown into a well. Bishops and Brothers alike were condemned to death without trial for the crime of professing and teaching the Catholic faith.

• Born 14 May 1885, in La Molina de Ubierna, Spain
• Entered the novitiate November 21, 1901
• Marrtyred in Spain, August-September 1936
• Beatified October 10, 1993