Efrén Lobo Iglesias was born on February 1, 1929 in Navares de Enmedio, Spain. He studied at the seminary of Segovia and received a degree in theology from the University of Comillas. Ordained on April 12, 1952, and incardinated in the Madrid diocese, he requested admission to the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross as an Associate in 1956. During the 1971-72 school year he earned his doctorate in sacred theology at the University of Navarre. For five years he trained chaplains for immigrants in Europe and the Americas. In 1973 he was named editorial secretary of the magazine Palabra. His generous dedication of time to hearing confessions and the care with which he prepared his preaching were evident to everyone. He had a deep veneration for St. Josemaría and a special love for the Holy Mass and for our Lady. He bore a succession of sicknesses with naturalness, cheerfulness, and trust in God. He died on March 6, 2004.

The other members of the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross who died during this six month period are:

José Manuel Adrán Cambón March 6, 2004
Felipe Alzina Amengual June 3, 2004
Federico Carreras Muñoz March 25, 2004
Francisco Fontela Aldegunde January 4, 2004
Julio Giraldo Serna May 5, 2004
Antonio Gómez Ortigueira November 17, 2003
Salvador Gonzalo Tejedor March 12, 2004
Karl Ernst Jeners January 2, 2004
Lino López Martínez May 12, 2004
Exiquio Mateo Fernández April 10, 2004
José Noguera Espona January 31, 2004
Plácido Olivares Sanz March 30, 2004
Pedro José Peris Blasco April 21, 2004
Miguel Ribes Quintana February 14, 2004
Jaime Tovar Patrón February 16, 2004