Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Santa Rosa de Osos (Agenzia Fides) - Colombian priest Father Emir Jaramillo Cardenas was killed between December 20 and 21 at his home, located in Santa Rosa de Osos, about 74 km from the city of Medellin. According to some acquaintances of the priest, who was in charge of the Chapel "Our Lord of Humility", Father Jaramillo had not received any death threats. His body was found by a relative who, surprised by the fact that he had not come to the chapel, went looking for him. The door of his apartment was open and, on entering, he found the body of the priest with knife wounds.
The Bishop of the Diocese of Santa Rosa de Osos, Bishop Jairo Jaramillo Monsalve, delivered a statement of his grief for the death of the priest: "The diocese is united with his family by rejecting this barbaric act and praying for his eternal rest," the prelate said. Father Jaramillo was also Director of the Diocesan Archive Office: "He was very interested in history. He was a member of the Center for History of Santa Rosa de Osos. He was also a permanent consultant for all the processes of the diocese," said Fabian Rendon Ospina, Director of Communications for the diocese.
Emir Don Jaramillo was born in 1936 and was ordained priest in 1966. Since 1999, he worked at the chapel dedicated to “Our Lord of Humility,” a place rich in history and spirituality, much frequented by the faithful of this city. The Diocese of Santa Rosa de Osos, built February 5, 1917, has 92 parishes and priests in sufficient number for the pastoral labor. A good number of priests are working in other jurisdictions in the Church and are committed to the mission "ad gentes.” Three institutes of consecrated life were begun here: the Xaverian Missionaries of Yarumal, the Missionary Sisters of St. Therese, and the Sisters Daughters of Our Lady of Mercy.
Although Santa Rosa de Osos is rich in vocations, it is also experiencing a situation of generalized violence that plagues all of Colombia. In the last year alone, several priests have been murdered and bishops have been threatened. A few days ago, the Colombian Episcopal Conference (CEC) launched a campaign against weapons and the Secretary of the CEC, Bishop Juan Vicente Cordoba Villota, has called for an agreement for peace and non-violence in the country (see Fides 3/12/2009). (CE) (Agenzia Fides 22/12/2009)
