Courtney McGrail
Spanish priest killed in Columbian church
Fr Luis Alfonso León Pereira, a popular Spanish priest who had worked for 48 years in Columbia, was murdered in the sacristy just before celebrating Mass on Wednesday, July 15.
The priest was killed by a homeless man who entered Montería’s church of St Mary Mother of the Church in search of something to steal. On being discovered, he struck Fr Pereira with a broken bottle but was stopped from fleeing by local residents. The diocese has announced three days of mourning and Eucharistic exposition.
Anniversary of St Charbel Makhluf
Lebanon’s Maronite Church is to hold a novena and celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary to mark the beatification of St Charbel Makhluf.
The beatification of the 19th-Century saint, who was canonised in 1977, has been described by Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros al-Rahi as a prophetic deed intended to focus the world’s attention on the importance of the Eastern Church, perhaps in anticipation of the dramatic hours it has since experienced. Events linked with the anniversary will be held in the saint’s birthplace at Bekaa Kafra (Bsharri).
