Vancouver Sisters of Charity, Halifax, Maureen Wild and Cecilia Hudec travelled to El Salvador as part of a delegation organized by SHARE El Salvador to the beatification in January of Jesuit Father Rutilio Grande; his sacristan, Manuel Solórzano; lay companion Nelson Rutilio Lemus; and Franciscan Father Cosme Spessotto.

The sisters joined hundreds who gathered at the parishes of El Paisnal, Aguilares, and surrounding parishes and walked the three kilometers into the plaza where three screens had been set up to view livestream beatification Mass in the plaza of Savior of the World in San Salvador celebrated by Cardinal Rosa Chavez and bishops, priests, and faithful, including visitors from neighbouring Central America.

Father Grande and companions were killed March 12, 1977, on their way to a neighbouring parish for a novena to St. Joseph.

A large painting of Father Grande and companions was unveiled both inside and outside the Church of El Paisnal. 

Manuel was the sacristan who accompanied Father Grande wherever he went because of threats to his life. Young Nelson, 17, loved to hang around the parish and was picked up as his friend drove to Aguilares. 

Friar Cosme worked in the parish of St John of Nonualco. Like Father Rutilio and Archbishop Oscar Romero, he preached the gospel of liberation and freedom under a repressive military government.

Bishop Oswaldo Ecobar Aguilar, OCD, of Chalatenango, a native Salvadorian, highlighted their deaths as an example of a church of martyrs. Father Rutilio and Archbishop Romero were good friends when they lived at the Jesuit University together and the night that Father Rutilio died, he sat up all night accompanying his body and asking the question, “What must I do?” 

By morning he knew that he would continue Father Rutilio’s work with great commitment. He began preaching the Gospel with vigor and transparency, moved out of the bishop’s house, and lived in a small apartment on the grounds of the hospital where in March 1980 he too was gunned down while celebrating Mass in the hospital chapel. 

Bishop Oswald noted that as Archbishop Romero demanded justice on the national level, Father Rutilio demanded justice for the less visible rural poor even as their lives were being threatened.


Lionel Desilets receives a plaque commemorating his 100th birthday from his sons Rolland and Jerome.

Brother Lionel Desilets, a charter member of Knights of Columbus Council 5417 in Powell River, was honoured as he turned 100 on Feb. 8.

Desilets, who served as Grand Knight from 1979 to 1981, received a plaque from two of his sons, Rolland and Jerome, who have also served as Grand Knights.

Lionel Desilets is honoured by Don Bourcier and Fathers Patrick Tepoorten and Allen Boisclair. 

Desilets has been an active member of the council and parish for years, said Grand Knight Don Bourcier. “I remember one project we did for one of our widows. We installed siding on her unfinished garage. Lionel was there every step of the way. He was 88 years old at the time and he was up ladders and up on the scaffolding with the rest of us.”


St. James, Abbotsford, Pastor Father William Ashley recently celebrated the 45th anniversary of his ordination at the parish’s Thursday night Holy Hour. (Jeff Rossiter.)

Members of Vancouver’s Polish Catholic community marked St. John Paul II’s 102nd birthday with flowers and candles at his statue in front of the John Paul II Pastoral Centre. (Rose Pillay)

Vancouver CWL were able to hold their annual diocesan convention for the first time in three years. Women from all over the diocese gathered at Our Lady of Sorrows in Vancouver to congratulate outgoing officials and welcome the new executive. Shown are outgoing President Barbara Renaud, Father James Hughes who takes over as spiritual adviser from Father Tom Smith, and Sherray Duran.


St. Edmund’s parishioners take part in a Good Friday Stations of the Cross in North Vancouver.

Peter M. Bull of Providence Health Care’s board of directors was in Rome where he invited Pope Francis to visit the new St. Paul’s Hospital site if came to B.C. during his Canadian visit. The Pope’s brief itinerary has now been released and unfortunately does not include B.C.