Father Hermógenes was remembered as a pastor close to his community during a Eucharist in San José Pinula

The Eucharist for the 48th anniversary of the martyrdom of the father Hermogenes López Coarchita It was held at the Pinula Arena, in San José Pinula.

Bishops, priests, family members, special guests and faithful participated in the Eucharist, concelebrated by Monsignor Gonzalo de Villa, Father Alberto Vásquez and other priests.

“He was parish priest of this parish for 12 years, a native priest of Sacatepéquez, a diocesan priest of the clergy of this archdiocese, a priest who, according to the testimony of so many who knew him – and those who remain are already somewhat veterans – speaks to us of a dedicated priest, of a faithful priest, of an evangelizing priest, of a priest who took care of his people, of a pastor priest, of a priest who was a friend of children, of a priest who opened the doors of his house to the people of the upper part, but also to the people of the town; of a priest who set an example throughout his life, even before his death and even before the final cause that led to his martyrdom,” said Monsignor Gonzalo de Villa.

“A priest who died in an exemplary way in his ministry, in the 24 years of ministry that he managed to live; a priest who also, in the final stretch of his life, took risks to defend his people and to defend water,” because there was a project to bring it to the capital. “That defense of the poor and the peasant people made him take the courage to speak forcefully, to do so in time… That was conspiring so that in the end they would look for a way to end his life, and that happened on June 30, 48 years ago,” added the monsignor.

“On this day, then, among the great apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul, we remember the memory of Father Hermogenes and we remember him here, in this land where he served for years and where he shed his blood when it was cruelly taken from him,” said Monsignor De Villa.

Father Alberto Vásquez, in his homily, referred to the cause of beatification of Father Hermógenes.

“We are celebrating one more anniversary of the murder of Father Hermogenes and, at the same time, the cause for the martyrdom of Father Hermogenes is being carried out. The times are God’s and, according to his will, the process will be resolved in a timely manner. The process is in the Roman phase and continues. In the Congress of Theologians for the cause, some consultations have been presented that are being worked on and, based on the response given by the postulator, they will be studied again and the process will continue its course. I repeat: times are from God and, in this case, there is no predetermined time, but rather we accept that divine plan and, if it is the will of the Lord, Father Hermogenes can be declared a martyr,” said Father Vásquez.

“The invitation would be for us to continue trying to get to know the figure of the father. Many times, when we ignore what the father did, the way he lived, everything he did for the good of this people, everything he did with his ministry, it may be that we do not adequately value this figure that we have in this clergy of the Archdiocese of Santiago de Guatemala,” added Father Alberto.

“Let us ask the Lord to continue giving us the courage that Father Hermogenes had from a true spirituality, centered on Christ, from a clarity of the Gospel, and let us beseech Him that, according to His will, He grants us the opportunity to see Father Hermogenes at the altars (…); that his example helps us to adequately live the call that God gives us to insert ourselves in this world carrying the announcement of the Good News; that the example of dedication, the example of sacrifice, the example of kindness and May the example of courage always accompany us and may the figure of Father Hermógenes become ever closer to us and we may also make it closer to the entire Church in Guatemala. May God help us,” added Father Vásquez.

Jacobo López, brother of Father Hermógenes, told Prensa Libre: “I remember how he was, very simple, humble, poor, hard-working and with a lot of love, dedicated to his neighbor, assisting the sick and carrying out his ministry in the way he believed was best,” he said.

López thanked the press for all the publications that have been made over time because they have made the figure of Father Hermógenes known and said that he preserves them as a treasure.