CARACAS: 17
February 2014 -- The Provincial of the Salesian
Province in
Venezuela, Fr Luciano Stefani, has published a statement
concerning the
brutal murder of two of his confreres, and the serious
injuries
sustained by a third in an attack in a Salesian community on
15
February 2014. "The Salesians of Don Bosco together
with the
Salesian Family express their profound sorrow and concern
regarding the
violent act that took place at Don Bosco CollegeValencia
(170 or so kms
west of Caracas, Valencia is Venezuela's third largest city.
Don Bosco
College is 118 years old, amongst the earliest salesian
presences in
Venezuela. here is the statement:
"The Catholic Church in Venezuela has
suffered irreparable loss with the death of two Religious of
the
Salesian Family who had spent so much effort serving needy
young
peoples in the vast field of education in the country.
With deep sorrow in our heart we are passing on tragic and
painful
news: around midnight on 15 February, two armed young people
entered
Don Bosco College in Valencia and in a violent robbery
attempt,
brutally murdered Fr Jesús Plaza, 80 years of age, and
Bro. Luis
Sánchez, 84 years of age. In the struggle to defend his
confreres, the
Rector of the community, Fr David Marín, was seriously
injured, and was
admitted to emergency to be operated on. He is now out of
danger.
Other than this violent abuse of community space, the
delinquents also
went into the chapel where they profaned the Blessed Sacrament
and
stole sacred vessels and other items.
Fr Jesús Erasmo Plaza Salessi was born 2 June 934, in
La Mesa de Ejido
in Mérida State. He made his first profession as a
Salesian on 8
September 1952 and was ordained priest on 15 August 1962, in
Guatemala
City, where he had studied theology. He exercised his priestly
ministry
in all simplicity, fraternally and with particular apostolic
dedication, almost always working in a parish.
Brother Luis Edilberto Sánchez Morantes came from
Boavita (Boyacá,
Colombia), where he was born on 23 October 1929. His first
profession
as a Salesian was 16 August 1956, in Los Teques. He studied
technical
education, business studies, and spent a long and
well-qualified career
as a Salesian teacher amongst the young in colleges in
Sarría, Puerto
La Cruz and Don Bosco Valencia.
With sorrow at the loss of these elderly Salesians we also
feel deep
regret for the two young assialnts, obviously confused, who
committed
this terrible act and cut off the lives of two men who
dedicated their
life to poor and needy youth. As a Salesian family we reject
any act of
violence by and against any person and we demand that
the
competent authorities clarify these events and follow the path
of
social justice and peace which has been sorely lacking over
recent
years.
We ask everyone to pray for the eternal repose of Fr Plaza and
Bro.
Sánchez; at the same time we ask people to be active
and vigilant in
continuing to build a Venezuelan society in shared peace and
safety.
May the death of these two religious who have been
unconditionally
dedicated to the education of the poor, not go unpunished; may
the
memory of their virtues urge us on to continue struggling for
a country
which is free and peaceful".
The funeral is being held at midday on 17 February, at the
school.
