Peru: Three murdered missionaries beatified

Frs Zbigniew, Michael and Allessandro

Three missionary priests who were killed by Shining Path guerillas in 1991: the young Polish Franciscans, Fathers Zbigniew Strzałkowski and Michał Tomaszek and older Italian diocesan priest, Father Alessandro Dordi were beatified in Chimbote, Peru, on Saturday, 5 December 2015.

Father Zbigniew came to Peru in 1988. Father Michael arrived the next year. They worked in Pariacoto, a poor village in the Andes in the Peruvian Diocese of Chimbote. They were both tireless pastors. During a severe drought they helped the community build a water pipe network and brought them food through Caritas. Fr Allessandro had served on the mission since 1980.

Father Zbigniew (32) and Fr Michal (30) were abducted and shot dead on 9 August 1991. On 25 August that year, Fr Dordi was ambushed as he drove back from celebrating Mass and baptising children. He was shot as he got out of his car. He was 60.

Delegations from all the dioceses of Peru and numerous groups from Poland and Italy, came for the ceremony, which was attended by thousands of people.

The three priests are the first beatified martyrs of Peru, and Fathers Michał and Zbigniew are the first beatified Polish missionary-martyrs.

To read more about Blessed Zbigniew Strzałkowski and Michał Tomaszek see: www.pastoralcentre.pl/franciscan-martyrs-michal-tomaszek-zbigniew-strzalkowski/

Read about Father Alessandro Dordi here: www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/fr-alessandro-dordi-the-peruvian-martyr-from-italy-50840/