World, 23 April 2021 -- In the early morning hours in El Campello - Spain, a great Salesian missionary, Fr. Jose Carbonnel Llopis (1927-2021) passed away on 22 April 2021, after 74 years of Salesian consecrated life, 64 years as a Salesian priest and 46 years of Salesian missionary life.

The Salesian Province of Mary Help of Christians (Seville - Spain) announced this news yesterday. Fr José Carbonell was born in Alcoy (Alicante), on March 27, 1927. He was an aspirant in Mataró (1944-45), then he made the novitiate at Sant Vicenç del Horts, where he made his first religious profession on August 16, 1946. He studied philosophy, then continued in Gerona (1950-52) as a post-novice assistant. There he made his perpetual profession in 1951. He studied theology in Turin-Crocetta (1952-56).

He was a Doctor of Philosophy and a Bachelor of Theology, both obtained from PAS. He was ordained as a priest at the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Turin, on July 1, 1956. Since then, he has been developing his pastoral work in Sant Vicenç dels Horts (“Catechist” of philosophy students, from 1956-58, and Rector from 1958-61); Rector of the Novitiate and Philosophy study center of Godelleta (1961-64), Provincial of Valencia (1964-70), Rector of the Technical School of La Almunia de Doña Godina (1970-72), Rector of the Don Bosco Residence of La Almunia (1972 -75).

His missionary life started in the Philippines where he was sent as Provincial (1975-81) and later Novice Master and Professor of Philosophy and Theology (1981-85). As a provincial he also accepted the new missions in Papua New Guinea (Araimiri) and continued as missionary in Timor Leste - Indonesia (1985-2012), last few years based in Jakarta-Wisma (2012- 2015). Since 2015 he was a member of the community for senior confreres in Spain, El Campello, until the day of his death.

Fr José Carbonell will be remembered as a great Salesian, a man of God, passionate, deeply loving Don Bosco and his Congregation, courageous, enterprising, always optimistic, happy, human, a good son of Don Bosco. He will be remembered not only Salesian provincial - in Spain (Valencia) and in the Philippines (Manila), but especially as a founder of the Salesian mission in Indonesia, where he spent most of last 30 years of his missionary life.

May the Risen Lord welcome our confrere Fr José among all those who have given their lives to the Salesian mission, May Mary Help of Christians, whom he loved so much, receive him with the affection of the Good Mother in heaven, and may our Father Saint John Bosco be close to him.

Rest in Peace!