Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Mexico City (Agenzia Fides) – The Church of “El Sagrario” in Mexico City celebrated the funeral of Father José Luis Puerto Parra, assassinated on February 17, Ash Wednesday. The Mass was celebrated by Bishop Antonio Ortega Franco, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Mexico, who during the homily said he regretted the fact that "at times man falls prey to man himself,” who is capable of terrible acts. He recalled Father Jose Luis Parra as an exemplary priest and a Good Samaritan, who throughout his life devoted himself to carrying out pastoral-social ministry along with the other priests. During the Mass, the coffin was escorted by the Knights of Columbus, of which the priest was chaplain. The church was full of believers, from the Archdiocese of Mexico and the Yucatan, who condemned all acts of violence and expressed their outrage at this crime. After the funeral, the body was taken to his hometown of Merida.
The priest was killed on Wednesday, February 17, after having his truck robbed, as he was traveling west towards a town of the Federal District. Father Jose Luis Parra and his companion were attacked by several unknown persons as they exited a store in Vasco de Quiroga. Immediately after, the men took the truck with the wounded priest, while his companion was forced out of the car at Avenida 508, where he asked for help to the security forces. Father Parra's body was found inside the truck in the area of Netzahualcóyotl.
Father José Luis Parra Puerto was born in Merida, Yucatan, August 5, 1959, and was ordained a priest on June 6, 1986 in Mexico City. He studied at the Conciliar Seminary of Saint Ildephonsus and the Pontifical University of Mexico. He was chaplain of the community of Marist Brothers in Merida (1989), Parochial Vicar of Motul (1993), Deputy Director of the Secretariat of Evangelization and Catechesis (1995), Rector of the Church of Mary, Mother of God (1995), Rector of the Church of Our Lady, Refuge of Sinners (1997), Vicar of St. Servatius in Valladolid (1998), Vicar of Ticul (1998), parish priest of Guadalupe, Tizimin (1999), and since 2003 was a member of the Archdiocese of Mexico. He founded the Foundation Tlazotlaliztli-Ollin, AC, to support the elderly and education for poor children. (CE) (Agenzia Fides 22/02/2010)
