Enrico Achiardi was born in Milan, Italy, on December 5, 1931. He studied engineering in Rome, where he met Opus Dei in 1952. He was the first director of Centro Elis in Rome, an apostolic initiative inaugurated by Pope Paul VI in 1965. Later he moved to Milan, to work in the regional commission of Opus Dei in Italy. He dedicated the final years of his life to the development of the Campus Bio-Medico University in Rome. He was exemplary in his industriousness and his generous dedication to the apostolic tasks of the Prelature. He died on December 21, 2002, as a result of a traffic accident.

Alfonso Balcells Gorina was born in Barcelona on April 5, 1915. He met the founder of Opus Dei in 1938, during the Spanish Civil War. In 1939 he took part in a retreat preached by Saint Josemaría in Burjasot, near Valencia. He joined Opus Dei in 1943, after having borne, with great loyalty and supernatural outlook, the serious attacks that had been directed against the Work in Barcelona for several years. He attained great professional prestige in the course of his outstanding career as professor of Medicine, rector of the University of Salamanca and member of the Royal Medical Academy of Catalonia. He died in Barcelona on November 11, 2002.

Lily Brinkmann Falconi held a doctorate in Philosophy and Education. She was born in Quito, Ecuador, on June 29, 1941 and died on September 30, 2002, from a cancer detected two years earlier. When she learned the seriousness of her condition, she placed herself entirely in God’s hands, preparing for the moment when our Lord would call her. The knowledge that the Prelate of Opus Dei was helped by the offering of her suffering for the apostolic work encouraged her to accept it with peace. She carried out an intense apostolate of confession with her family, friends and students.

Manuel Caballero Santos was born in Los Santos de Maimona, Badajoz, Spain, on April 1, 1926. He studied Fine Arts in Seville, where he met Opus Dei in 1949. From 1951 to 1966 he lived in Rome and helped in the construction of the central headquarters of Opus Dei. There he carried out works of painting, sculpture, ceramics, mosaics and other design work, constantly encouraged by Saint Josemaria. One of his works is the image of our Lady with Child that presides over the oratory of Our Lady of Peace, where the sacred remains of the founder of Opus Dei repose. After his return to Seville, he continued his professional activity, in great part dedicated to religious painting. He died in that city on August 10, 2002, after a long illness.

Marina Carneiro da Silva Muricy was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on August 31, 1914. She was one of the first Supernumeraries from that city. When she met Opus Dei she underwent a deep conversion that led her to carry out a broad personal apostolate among her friends and relatives. Faithful in the fulfillment of the norms of piety, she was outstanding for her generosity and efforts to obtain funds for apostolic activities. She died on June 27, 2002, offering her long sickness for the Church and the Pope.

François-Xavier Guerra was born in Vigo, Spain on November 27, 1942. He studied in Paris and Grenoble. Professor of Contemporary History at the University of Paris (the Sorbonne), he specialized in Latin American History. Attaining international prestige, he took part in numerous congresses and collaborated in many publications. He died in Paris on November 10, 2002, as a result of lung cancer. His death was deeply felt by his companions and students, a large number of whom attended his funeral.

Erich Jochum was born in Czernye, Yugoslavia, on December 25, 1933. He studied engineering at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. He joined Opus Dei in 1956, and lived for forty years in Japan, helping to establish centers in Nagasaki and Ashiya, where he was Director of the Seido Language Institute. He was known for his spontaneity, loyalty, apostolic zeal, and his example of work well done. He died on December 8, 2002.

Patricia Luecke was born in Macomb, Illinois, on November 8, 1945. A member of Opus Dei since 1964, she studied nursing, a profession which she exercised for many years. In 1986 she suffered an accident that left her totally paralyzed. In her new circumstances, she completely accepted God’s will and forgave the person whose carelessness had crippled her. She did everything possible to recover her ability to work, and until a few days before her death helped out cheerfully in various apostolic activities. She died on July 4, 2002.

Sara Martín González was born in Oviedo, Spain, on June 12, 1912. She worked in the administration of the first center of Opus Dei in Bilbao. She was always known for her simplicity, cheerfulness and elegance. She devoted herself to various tasks of formation, carrying out a broad apostolic work with her habitual generosity and faithfulness to the spirit of Opus Dei. She led a simple life, with a youthful spirit. She died suddenly in San Sebastián on August 24, 2002.

Sagrario Martínez Torres was born in Pamplona on March 22, 1939. He met Opus Dei in 1960, as a medical student. He united great common sense with a deep faith rooted in divine filiation. After a long illness which he bore with supernatural spirit, fortitude and cheerfulness, he died in Pamplona on August 8, 2002.

David Mejía Velilla. He was one of the first faithful of Opus Dei in Colombia. He studied Jurisprudence and Canon Law, and also dedicated himself to poetry and other branches of literature and history. A member of the Colombian Academy of the Spanish Language and the Colombian Academy of History, he took part in the founding of the University of La Sabana in Bogota, of which he was the first dean of the School of Law and Social Communication. He began, with other educators, the Association for Teaching, dedicated to the founding of schools where education would be given with a Christian spirit. He died in Bogotá on September 15, 2002.

Rafael Méndez Alvarado, a biochemist, was born in the city of Flores, Petén, Guatemala, on April 16, 1934. He belonged to Opus Dei since 1959. During the sixties and seventies, he was a member of the regional commission of Central America. His professional prestige led him, together with several colleagues, to begin a number of clinical laboratories. He died of a heart attack in Guatemala City on November 8, 2002. He carried out a broad apostolic work among his professional colleagues.

Rosario Orbegozo Goicoechea was born in Bilbao, Spain on November 28, 1918. She met Opus Dei, through her brother Ignacio, in 1946. From the beginning, she was a great support to Saint Josemaría because of her faithfulness, cheerfulness and good humor. With full availability she took part in the beginning of various apostolic works and dedicated herself with generosity and professional competence to the domestic administration of centers of the Work. She bore the limitations and sufferings of her illness during her last years with great fortitude, never losing her good humor. She died in the University Hospital in Pamplona on August 26, 2002.

Alfonso Par Balcells, born in Barcelona on November 9, 1922, was a member of Opus Dei since 1945. Ordained as a priest in 1951, he began the apostolate of Opus in Germany in 1952 and was the first Counsellor of Germany, Austria and the Netherlands. With his exemplary dedication, his fidelity to the spirit of Saint Josemaría Escrivá and his sporting spirit he was an efficacious instrument in the hands of God. He died on November 1, 2002, in Munich.

Jaime Salcedo Ayalon was born in Pontevedra, Negros Oriental, the Philippines, on July 15, 1933. He worked in the management of an agricultural products business, and enjoyed great professional prestige. He joined Opus Dei in 1985. The father of nine, he was known for his attentive dedication to his family. He calmly accepted his illness and offered his sufferings for the Church. He died in Iloilo City on November 29, 2002.

Marco Vigorelli was born in Milan on June 19, 1946, and belonged to Opus Dei since 1977. A well-known business consultant, he gave witness by his life to the importance of the value of the person and Christian temperance. He developed a new line of research taking into account the social doctrine of the Church and the teachings of Saint Josemaría. The father of seven children, he dedicated his best energies to his family, and also assisted in developing many apostolic activities of the Prelature. He died unexpectedly in Terrassini, Palermo, on September 25, 2002.

The other faithful of the Prelature who died during this half year are:

Olga Abecia de Molina, November 15, 2002
María Teresa Aguilar Subías, September 11, 2002
María Elena Alarcón de Herrera, November 2, 2002
Rosario Alonso Melero, July 26, 2002
Julián Álvarez de la Vega, July 16, 2002
Gloria Amat Gómez del Castillo, September 7, 2002
Guillermo Antiñolo López, September 30, 2002
Petra Arroyo Jiménez, November 10, 2002
Hermelinda Baeza de Moreno, October 25, 2002
Henry Paul Bayliss, September 26, 2002
Vicenta Balsera Rosado, August 14, 2002
Eusebia Elisa Baratelli de Ferraro, July 8, 2002
María Rafaela Barredo de Salazar, July 20, 2002
Jaume Bombardó Miquel, November 11, 2002
María Rosario Bosch Montesinos, November 29, 2002
Paloma Bosch Saco, November 25, 2002
Fernando Brengio Orvella, September 11, 2002
José María Buxens Thos, September 28, 2002
Ana María Cacho de Salas, October 24, 2002
Yvonne Campos de Cánepa, July 27, 2002
Leonor Canales de Velasco, August 23, 2002
Ignasi Canals Guilera, September 14, 2002
Margarita Candeira Fernández-Araoz, November 10, 2002
Antonio Cantí Torrellardona, September 12, 2002
Aníbal Manuel Casillo Barreira, November 23, 2002
María Joaquina Castaño Pineda, September 5, 2002
Amalia Castellano Morales, December 1, 2002
Raimundo del Castillo Muñoz, August 5, 2002
Pablo Cerezo Nevado, October 21, 2002
Jeanne Chabert, July 16, 2002
Fermín Chulilla Sáinz, December 19, 2002
Pere Coll Alier, October 19, 2002
Ana Isabel Cornide de Zuazu, December 21, 2002
Domingo Correas Martínez, December 15, 2002
Mario Antonio Cortés Rodríguez, November 17, 2002
Salustiano Cortina Menéndez de la Cuesta, August 17, 2002
Kety Costales Barutell, September 27, 2002
Alice Crane, September 23, 2002
Leontine Dao, July 7, 2002
Francisco Delgado Fernández, August 14, 2002
María Josefa Delgado de Molina Juliá, December 7, 2002
José Luis Delpiano Barros, August 31, 2002
Natalia Díaz Díaz, December 21, 2002
Juan Carlos Díaz Fernández de Quincoces, December 28, 2002
Anna Ditta in Terranova, September 26, 2002
Luis Javier Domínguez Domínguez, November 1, 2002
Enrique Domínguez Morales, December 19, 2002
Francisco Ebrero Hoyofrío, July 4, 2002
Gerhard Edlbacher, August 4, 2002
María Elizondo de Cázeres, October 7, 2002
Josep Estrany Rodríguez, August 30, 2002
José Manuel Esturillo López, October 14, 2002
Gloria Fernández Collazo, July 5, 2002
Isabel Fernández Crespo, October 13, 2002
María Esperanza Fernández de Kleiner, October 21, 2002
Enrique Fernández Molina, September 4, 2002
Filomena Fernández Rey, December 1, 2002
Carlos Ferraro Storino, November 12, 2002
Roberto Ferreira Mortari, July 29, 2002
Manuel Ferreira Ramos, September 17, 2002
Luis María Ferrer Urrieta, November 28, 2002
María Carolina Florido Álvaro, November 15, 2002
María Mercedes Folle de Rodríguez Telechea, September 27, 2002
Ramón Franco Llanos, July 13, 2002
Félix Edmundo Francisco Mabanta, September 1, 2002
Norma Irene Freddes de Pellegrina, June 28, 2002
Fernando Frutos Garrido, November 22, 2002
Ignacio Fuentes Quezada, December 22, 2002
Basilio Galindo Martínez, December 15, 2002
Ana Maria Gamboa Bandeira de Melo, August 23, 2002
António Garção da Silva, November 7, 2002
Juan José García de Andrés, November 10, 2002
José García García, November 28, 2002
Isabel García Martínez, September 23, 2002
Julio García-Puente Llamas, September 25, 2002
María Teresa Geisse de Larraín, June 26, 2002
Vicente Genovés Valls, July 7, 2002
Luis Gil Carpena, December 7, 2002
Rafaela Giménez Cuervós, December 5, 2002
José Martín Giménez Ribes, December 6, 2002
Daniel Gimeno Pérez, October 19, 2002
Francisca Gimferrer Felip, November 16, 2002
Manuel Godina Simorte, September 8, 2002
Mario Goicoechea Rodríguez de Llano, July 17, 2002
Alejandro Gómez Fajardo, October 28, 2002
Antonio Gómez Fernández, September 21, 2002
Enriqueta Gómez López, August 4, 2002
Amparito González Garzo, December 2, 2002
Pedro González Gómez, June 14, 2002
Clementina González Urones, December 4, 2002
José Alberto Graziano, October 9, 2002
Jaime Guallart Muñoz-Quirós, September 20, 2002
Graciela Guerra de Iturbide, October 29, 2002
Patrick Hegarty, October 31, 2002
Juan Hosta Santaeularia, September 6, 2002
Guadalupe Ibáñez Gutiérrez, October 25, 2002
Martín Ibarra Franco, November 18, 2002
Primitivo Izaguirre Requena, August 23, 2002
Héctor Jaramillo Restrepo, December 4, 2002
Miguel Ángel Jauset Clivillé, July 22, 2002
Josefa Jiménez Calero, August 17, 2002
Mercedes Jiménez Cárceles, July 14, 2002
Juan José Jiménez Julián, November 14, 2002
Carlos Jordana Butticaz, November 5, 2002
Luisa Jorganes Corral, August 29, 2002
Joan Jou Portella, September 7, 2002
Angelita Labayen Erburu, December 31, 2002
Pedro Laine Soler de Cornellá, October 21, 2002
Frank Lakey, September 6, 2002
Agnes Lally, September 26, 2002
Mercedes Sara Lanús, August 13, 2002
Germán Leira Rodríguez, November 21, 2002
Julia Leiva Ortún, July 21, 2002
Enriqueta León Ortega, September 9, 2002
Susana Letaif de Musi, December 15, 2002
Rolando Lo Celso Martini, November 28, 2002
Santos Loizaga Icaza, October 4, 2002
Andrés López del Baño, December 3, 2002
Aurelio López Olivares, October 6, 2002
Luisa Luistro Reyes, September 23, 2002
Alicia Mabanta Ysip, June 11, 2002
José Macías Mateos, December 14, 2002
Encarnación Maeztu Barrio, August 2, 2002
Maria de Nazaret Magalhães Ramos Sobral, July 15, 2002
Marcello Marano, December 11, 2002
Estrella Marcos Rodríguez, October 9, 2002
Josep Maria Marqués Masó, October 6, 2002
Aquilino Martín Soriano, November 30, 2002
Isidoro Martínez Pardo, October 8, 2002
José Martins Maghinho, July 29, 2002
Mercedes Masramón Ventós, November 23, 2002
Eduardo Matute Butragueño, August 23, 2002
María Asunción Mellado Carbonell, August 15, 2002
Carmen Mendizábal Ugalde, December 22, 2002
Juan Fernando de Mendoza Sans, September 23, 2002
Manuel Minaya Vázquez, July 20, 2002
José María Molero de Agüero, December 12, 2002
Concha Mora Gasull, August 3, 2002
Josefa Morales de los Ríos, July 29, 2002
Ramón Moratinos Alonso, December 28, 2002
Joaquín Morell Rovira, December 11, 2002
Isidro Moreno Cotto, November 1, 2002
Florentino Moreno Ultra, September 16, 2002
Antonio Moreno Vivó, December 12, 2002
Rafael Moriano Valenzuela, November 21, 2002
May Morris, November 18, 2002
Eva Clara Moskovitz de Fai, September 18, 2002
Pilar Muñoz de Chillida, July 13, 2002
María Navalón Eusebio, October 30, 2002
María Socorro Navarro del Pozo, November 24, 2002
Sara Núñez de Posada, October 22, 2002
Rosario Olcina Díaz-Jiménez, August 5, 2002
Ginés José Oliva Murcia, December 12, 2002
Antonio Olmedo Rodríguez, August 6, 2002
Alicia Ortiz de Gómez, July 11, 2002
Nicasio Otegui Echeverría, December 16, 2002
Ramón Padilla Sánchez, September 10, 2002
Reinaldo de Jesús Páez Márquez, August 28, 2002
Estela Pajarellano Pizarro, December 21, 2002
Maria Teresa Pastor Masferrer, October 21, 2002
María Dolores Pavés Couberlax, July 11, 2002
Irene Pavía Lázaro, November 15, 2002
Maruja Pérez Méndez, December 24, 2002
María Pérez Molina, August 15, 2002
Guadalupe Pérez Piñero, October 26, 2002
Fernando Pescador Colón, July 10, 2002
José del Pino Podadera, July 30, 2002
Fernando Pinto Muñoz, August 17, 2002
María Luisa Pintos Prat de Bianchi, August 15, 2002
Myriam Puig Abulí, September 29, 2002
Maria Eugénia Quaresma de Sousa de Salis Amaral, June 10, 2002
Miguel Vicente Ramírez Espejo, September 3, 2002
Rogelio Ramos Guerrero, July 18, 2002
Carmen Rangel, July 17, 2002
Ascensión Regojo Díaz, July 8, 2002
José María de Reygosa Izaguirre, August 2, 2002
Sebastián Rodríguez-Correa Navarro, July 11, 2002
Rosa María Rodríguez de Díaz Bernardo, September 24, 2002
Joaquim José Rodrigues Gonçalves, October 23, 2002
Enrique Rodríguez Lapuente, October 1, 2002
Eugenio Rodríguez López, December 31, 2002
Rosa Rodríguez Troncoso, September 16, 2002
Pío Rojo Martín, July 1, 2002
Enrico Romanelli, December 3, 2002
José Romero Blanch, April 3, 2002
Carmen Romero Castillo, August 10 , 2002
Juan Romero Reinaud, July 7, 2002
Viky Romo Sánchez, July 30, 2002
Norma Rotondaro de Sanabria, October 1, 2002
Daniela Rotundo, September 17, 2002
Rosalía Ruiz de Larramendi Díaz, December 14, 2002
Armando Sánchez Vélez, September 25, 2002
María Carmen Sandoval Correas, August 27, 2002
Julia Elisa Sanz Rubiales, October 24, 2002
Onofre "Peng" Sebastian, July 23, 2002
Mireia Segarra Molins, October 29, 2002
Elida Serra, August 6, 2002
José Francisco Serrano Benítez, December 7, 2002
Ricardo Sevillano Monteagudo, September 11, 2002
Margarita Sicart Corberó, August 18, 2002
José María Solaun Garteiz-Goxeascoa, November 11, 2002
Eduardo Tacoronte Aguilar, August 15, 2002
Montserrat Termes Carreró, February 23, 2002
Magdalena de Tibau, September 25, 2002
Alejandro Tolosa de Miedes, December 22, 2002
María Josefa Tordesillas Galvetón, November 20, 2002
Sara Tornell de Adame, October 4, 2002
Albert Torra Ferrer, October 1, 2002
Esteban Torres Mínguez, November 29, 2002
Federico Trillo-Figueroa Vázquez, September 11, 2002
Lucrecia Uribe de Medina, July 22, 2002
José Uribe Michel, October 6, 2002
María Ángeles Uribe Torres, November 13, 2002
Francisca Valle López, October 27, 2002
José Enrique Varela Ronzón, July 5, 2002
Hortensia Vecino Franco, August 31, 2002
Carlos Velaz Alzuet, September 13, 2002
Rómulo Vernengo Prack, November 2, 2002
María Rosa de Vicente López-Maeztu, July 26, 2002
Josep Maria Vilar Bassas, December 11, 2002
Añaterbe Vilar Borges, August 6, 2002
Lino Villaverde Campos, July 9, 2002
Guido Vitelloni, November 3, 2002
Irene Vizcaya Canales, November 1, 2002
Sofía Ybarra Mc-Mahon, November 27, 2002
Arturo Zorraquino Blasco, October 6, 2002