AMERICA/BRAZIL - Seriously wounded priest during a parish break-in is still under observation

Novo Hamburgo (Agenzia Fides) – Fr Inácio José Schuster, 41 years, was released from the intensive care unit of Regina Hospital yesterday morning, 7 April. The health department reported that he may only receive visits from family members and other priests. On the afternoon of 30 March the priest was shot in the face during an attempted robbery in the office of the parish of Our Lady of Mercy, in Hamburgo Velho, a district in the city of Novo Hamburgo, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul.
According to the note about this tragic episode sent to Fides by the Episcopal Conference of Brazilian Bishops, the priest underwent surgery on 2 April, to reduce and fix the fracture of his upper jaw. The bullet, which is near the left ear, was not removed and is not affecting vital organs, while being close to the region of the brain.
This news has had an impact at a national level: there are many e-mails and phone calls requesting information on the health of the priest, and in surrounding parishes groups are praying for the healing of Fr Inacio.
Meanwhile, the police continue the search for Silvio de Moraes Alves, known as “Silvio the madman”, 27 years, who is identified as the attacker. Arrested several times for robbery, he had escaped from the Penitentiary in Jacuí (Charqueadas) on 17 January earlier this year. (CE) (Agenzia Fides, 08/04/2011)