AMERICA/BRAZIL - Priest killed by kidnappers in Santa Caterina

Cacador (Agenzia Fides) – A 33-year-old priest, Fr. Evaldo Martiol from the Diocese of Cacador was killed in Santa Caterina on the evening of September 26, by two young men of 21 and 15 years of age, uncle and nephew respectively. According to a statement from the Brazilian Bishops' Conference (CNBB), the priest was the victim of a robbery that ended in homicide. After having left the chapel and visited the house of another priest, Fr. Evaldo walked to his car, where the two young men killed him.
His body was found 5 kilometers outside the urban area of Cacador, with 4 bullets inside. The next day, the police found the criminals, who still had the priest's car, cell phone, and documents. The two confessed to the crime and told police where the body of the priest was to be found. Fr. Evaldo, originally from Timbo Grande, was ordained a priest on April 26, 2003. He carried out his ministry in Friburgo, Salto Veloso, the Cathedral, and in the parish of Saint Francis of Assisi in Cacador. “His method of evangelization was friendship,” Diocesan Bishop Luiz Carlos Eccell said during the funeral celebrated in the Cathedral where the priest had worked and which was filled with sorrowful and grief-stricken faithful, because “Fr. Evaldo was a dear son, because he made friends with everyone.” (SL) (Agenzia Fides 29/9/2009)