Mass remembers Jesuit priests murdered in Cerocahui, Chihuahua

A Mass was held in the town of Cerocahui, Chihuahua, to remember the Jesuit priests Javier Campos and Joaquín Mora, as well as tour guide Pedro Palma and young Paul Berrelleza. The four were murdered in June 2022 at the parish in Cerocahui, located in Urique, Chihuahua.

The ceremony was attended by local residents and the Jesuit community, which has long been established in the Sierra Tarahumara region of Chihuahua. This memorial marked the fourth anniversary of the deaths of Fathers Campos and Mora, with the community gathering to remember them and pray for peace.

During the event, Father Rodrigo Espinoza López, SJ, took charge of the parish, beginning his mission in a community that continues to move forward with faith, hope, and dignity. The Mass also served to remember the priests and highlight the ongoing needs within the Rarámuri community.

Chihuahua Governor María Eugenia Campos Galván was present, along with members of her staff. She reiterated the state government's commitment to supporting the communities in the Sierra Tarahumara. Governor Campos noted that her administration has maintained close follow-up in the region since the 2022 events, addressing the population's most pressing needs, including poverty, malnutrition, and health.

The commemoration included a procession featuring traditional Rarámuri dances, a cultural and spiritual expression of prayer and the desire for peace in the area. The governor also engaged with regional priests, discussing the realities faced by the mountain communities and the state's efforts to strengthen social cohesion and promote peace.

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We are here with solidarity. We have a budget that has been implemented in the Sierra Tarahumara for the fight against poverty, malnutrition, and health.