The violence of Juarez

On the morning of Friday the 27th of November,the full-time Parish Assistant, Mr Leo Tenorio and I were crossing the city of Juarez for a meeting with the Editor of the Columban Spanish magazine, one Manny Vargas.

After a brief stop at the Bank, we continued on only to be passed out by speeding Police cars and military convoys with sirens blaring.

Soon enough we passed by  a tragic and frequently common-place scene:namely the recently executed body of a man whom we later learned was the father of 4 children, who was stretched out on a street corner, with 4 bullets in his head.

Hurriedly, we decided to at least attempt a prayer or a blessing for the victim concerned, not wanting to repeat the story of the Priest passing by the injured man on the way to Jerico!

I parked the pick-up just in front..curiously enough...of the recently shot up Funeral Home which belongs to the Mayor of our pacific city!

We then attempted to pass the Police line with it's respectful and yet unhelpful automatic weapon toting agents.

Whilst I was engaged in a rambling conversation with the Police, Leo had fortunately gained access to a squad of soldiers who were more accommodating and who, in turn, sent us further along, under and through the streams of yellowtape surrounding the scene of the execution.

Lo and behold..and thank you Lord..we discovered there a young Policeman who had completed the Confirmation Course in our Parish some 3 years ago!

After the  mutual greetings and the mutual.."What are you doing here's", he sent us on another 10 meters toward a group of masked Investigators, who showed signs of minor impatience with us.

Fortunately, 2 of the younger female Officers in charge of the crime scene took me over and much nearer to the body. At that moment another male Officer took me back and left me in a sort of no-mans land. I had already donned my Stole and had time to reflect about the cruelty and the violence of Juarez, surrounded as we were by troops, sobbing relatives, crackling radios and spiralling helicopters.

Once again..the younger female Officer came to my rescue and steered me through the waiting Commandos and into the house of the recently deceased, where I was able to meet with and console as best I could his wife and now widow.

She confided that at least their children were safe and now living in the United States.

I then left the house and paused for a blessing over her husband's innert body,  found the ever--resourceful Leo in the gathering swirl and continued on our way. In the last few days our Parish and city have been rocked by multiple executions and the resultant, emotional Funerals.

I must admit that the sobbing and screaming of families lamenting the death's of their loved ones weighs heavily on our souls. Thank God for the Faith!

To that end, please pray for the noble People of Mexico and the Columban Missionaries who have the privilege of accompanying them.