In the second half of 2004, 236 faithful of the Prelature and 22 members of the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross passed away.
The suffrages stipulated by Saint JosemarÌa have been offered for these deceased. As we continue to pray for them, let us thank God for the example they left us through their fidelity in striving to transform their professional work and the ordinary circumstances of their lives into an occasion for loving God and serving the Church and all souls. Their love for God constitutes the meaning and value of their lives, whether outstanding in the eyes of others, or whether quite ordinary, as was true in most cases.
In addition to the names of all who have died during this period, we have gathered a few biographical details about some of the deceased, which give an idea of the variety of circumstances and situations in which the faithful of Opus Dei live. For reasons of space, we are not including this data in the other cases, but we must not forget that we have a debt of gratitude towards all of them for the example of fidelity they have left us. These brief sketches will help us live the Communion of Saints better with those who have preceded us to heaven.

Madeleine Allard was born on June 17, 1918 in Rocques, Calvados, France. She and her husband had three daughters and a son. During the Second World War, in dramatic circumstances, she showed great generosity in assisting victims of violence. She met Opus Dei in Marseilles in 1969, and asked for admission as a Supernumerary soon afterwards. She was noted for her zealous service towards the needy and for her faith in God, which she tried to transmit to many people. She died in an automobile accident on July 30, 2004. Her funeral was attended by civil and military authorities, as well as by a large number of friends and acquaintances. Their esteem and affection for her was very evident.

Octavio Arizmendi Posada was born in Yarumal, Antioquia, Colombia, on July 29, 1934, as one of nine children. In 1954 he requested admission as a Numerary in Opus Dei. A lawyer and university professor, he was one of the founders and first rector of La Sabana University in Bogotá. He also served as a member of the legislature, governor of the province of Antioquia, and Minister of Education. Following a painful illness, he died in Medellín, Colombia, on November 14, 2004. During the days following his death, many people testified to his life of exemplary service to his country and to the Church.

Bartlomiej Banas died on August 23, 2004, at the age of 20, as a result of an accident in the mountains. He was born on October 3, 1983 in Czchów, Poland. In June 2004 he finished his second year as a law student with high marks. He was highly regarded among his university classmates for his apostolic zeal and his dedication to the sick and needy.

Rafael Emilio Bisonó Bisonó was born on October 24, 1938 in Santiago de los Caballeros, in the Dominican Republic, and died in the Dominican city of La Vega on July 2, 2004 from a bullet wound received in an attack on his way to take part in a class of theological formation. He was a member of the Prelature of Opus Dei since June 25, 1992, and took an active part in social projects in the poorer areas of the country. An engineer, he enjoyed the esteem of his colleagues and companions for his friendly demeanor and good humor. He was always concerned about his family and friends, to whom he left a shining example of an upright Christian life. He was married and had four children.

Agustín Gándara Montero was born in Piñeira de Arcos, Ourense, Spain on February 17, 1936. A member of Opus Dei since 1970, he was one of the first Supernumeraries in Ourense, and expended great effort in facilitating the opening of a center of the Work in that city. His concern for souls led him to show fortitude in bringing those he knew closer to God. A lawyer with great prestige, he was a recipient of the medal of the Order of Civil Merit. He died on July 3, 2004.

Nuno Fernando Girão Santos Ferreira was born in Viseu, Portugal on April 8, 1928. One of the first Portuguese Numeraries, he joined Opus Dei in 1948, while living in Coimbra, the city where he finished his training as a doctor. Ordained a priest on August 5, 1956, he served on the General Council of Opus Dei and later, for many years, as Regional Vicar of the Work in Portugal. He died suddenly during a program of spiritual formation in the Almançor Conference Center, Montemor-o-Novo, Portugal, on September 16, 2004. During the last years of his life he dedicated many hours each day to administering the sacrament of Penance. His advice and the example of his piety and faithfulness to the Church were a great help to many people.

Clara Inés Guevara Masís was born in San Salvador, capital of El Salvador, on April 27, 1954. In December 1981 she moved to Honduras to begin the stable apostolic work of Opus Dei in that country. She was a member of the Council of the Delegation from that time until her death. During those twenty-three years she helped begin a number of apostolic initiatives in Honduras, and carried out a broad apostolic work with people of all ages and walks of life. She was noted for her cheerfulness and sense of humor. As the result of a surgical operation she was hospitalized for a long period, during which she offered her sufferings for the apostolate and intensified her union with Christ on the Cross. She died in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, on October 9, 2004, following a heart attack.

Shigeno Kurumadani was born in Miyazu, Kyoto, Japan, on May 17, 1928. She requested admission as a Supernumerary on May 17, 1993. Her state of health had always been delicate and she was hospitalized during the last ten years of her life. She cheerfully offered up her physical immobility for the development of Opus Dei’s apostolic work in Japan. She entrusted her soul to God, comforted by the sacraments, on September 12, 2004.

Humberto Luján Londoño was born on June 7, 1928. He asked for admission as a Supernumerary of Opus Dei in 1975. A businessman and father of 7 children, he was a driving force in many apostolic works, among them the Gimnasio Los Alcázares school in Medellín, on whose founding board he served as chairman. Later, making a change in his professional work, he trained as a family counsellor and moved to Bogotá to assist the Family Institute of La Sabana University. In his final years he accepted various infirmities with a Christian spirit, not allowing them to interfere with his constant apostolate among his relatives, friends and neighbors. He died in Medellín, Colombia, on October 26, 2004.

Joan Marian McIntosh was one of the first American Numeraries. She was born on March 15, 1933 in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1963 she was appointed as professor in the Roman College of Saint Mary, which at that time was just beginning in Castelgandolfo, near Rome. Two years later she returned to the United States to form part of the Regional Advisory. Until 1997 she devoted herself entirely to tasks of formation and government in Opus Dei. She moved to Delray, Florida, where she collaborated in the formation of faithful of the Prelature in the area. During the last four years of her life she suffered from a lung problem, which she bore with supernatural vision and calm. She died quietly on July 17, 2004.

Encarna Peláez González was born in Coaña, Asturias, Spain, on May 26, 1934. For some years she dedicated herself to taking care of her older brother, who was a priest. She asked for admission to the Work on January 9, 1966. She worked in public administration until her retirement. Discrete and hardworking, she was demanding on herself and at the same time patient and understanding with others. She especially encouraged pilgrimages to the Shrine of Our Lady of Torreciudad among her friends. She died suddenly on August 17, 2004, in Valladolid, Spain.

Ana Maria Rangel de Alckmin was born in Guaratinguetá, São Paulo, Brazil, on January 27, 1920 and died on July 3, 2004. She and her husband were among the first Supernumeraries in Brazil. She contributed to the development of the apostolic work of Opus Dei in São Paulo and in Brasilia. She recalled with special affection and gratitude the times that she was able to be with Saint Josemaría. Those who knew her recognized her Christian virtues and were moved by her example.

The other faithful of the Prelature who died during these six months are:

Manuela Achaques Barragán October 27, 2004
Amparo Alamar López July 13, 2004
Isabel de Álava Mullor December 3, 2004
Juan Antonio Alcaraz Infante July 24, 2004
Maria Alina Almeida de Matos November 21, 2004
Angeles Alonso Rivas August 2, 2004
Rogelio Altisent Prats December 20, 2004
José Álvarez Gómez August 2, 2004
Manuela Álvarez Torviso August 5, 2004
Cecilio Amador Anguita June 24, 2004
Rafael Aragón Gayá July 18, 2004
Fernando Arbaiza Albisu September 24, 2004
María Francisca Arriaga García October 25, 2004
Andrés Aterido Cañadilla July 13, 2004
Teresa Aderita Atienza Carpena August 3, 2004
Joan Aubert Camps August 24, 2004
Fernando Ferreira de Azevedo December 3, 2004
José Manuel Azurmendi Iturrate October 21, 2004

Carlos Balseyro Rodríguez September 25, 2004
Lidia Barbera in Collura September 14, 2004
María Basterrechea de Rámila August 4, 2004
María Teresa Bayo Beller December 16, 2004
Marina Bayona de Plazas October 5, 2004
Nora Elizabeth Berganza de Vanegas August 7, 2004
Carmen Bertrán Llobet December 6, 2004
Edmundo Beutel Vergadá December 14, 2004
Andrés Blanco Valeiras August 28, 2004
Consorcia Bonotan Montilla October 18, 2004
Andreu Bosch Pujol December 17, 2004
Marta Bustos Pueche October 4, 2004

Angela Cadavid de Arango August 26, 2004
Dora Angélica Calmon de Abbondanza August 28, 2004
Raúl Calvimontes Núñez del Prado June 29, 2004
Teresa Calvo Serer December 1, 2004
Manuel Campos Hernández November 27, 2004
María Concepción Cardoner Blanch November 30, 2004
Manuel Carmona Guillén July 6, 2004
Amelia Carpi Cañellas August 17, 2004
Isabel Carrera de Boppel July 7, 2004
Monserrat Cases Noró December 19, 2004
Víctor Castro Sanmartín September 10, 2004
Francisco Cerdán López October 30, 2004
María de los Dolores Cerro Luengo August 6, 2004
Maria Lina Pinto de Oliveira Coelhoe Sousa September 6, 2004
Perla Combre de Bullard September 2, 2004
Ana María Corcuera de Martínez Negrete September 12, 2004
Adolfo Cordón Schwank September 3, 2004
Margarita Córdova Vda. de Flores July 2, 2004
Amparo Cuquerella Cuquerella August 28, 2004

Carlos Dafauce Ruiz June 27, 2004
Ana Teresa Daza de Cortés September 28, 2004
María Gabriela De Mello December 30, 2004
Carmen De Miguel Benedicto December 7, 2004
Marta Del Corral de Perfetti December 22, 2004
Encarnación Del Valle Sarriá December 14, 2004
Maximiano Díez Díez October 6, 2004
María del Carmen Domínguez Ruiz-Aguirre October 24, 2004
Albertina Doppierio August 3, 2004
Gilberto Durazo Corella September 22, 2004

Hans Eberle October 16, 2004
Stephen C. Emehelu July 14, 2004
Eliana Errázuriz García-Moreno November 16, 2004
María Teresa Escoto Servín August 11, 2004
Lluis Esteve Corvera December 9, 2004
Sara Esturillo Peragalo December 28, 2004
Rosario Evangelista Alanon July 29, 2004

María Esther Fenner de Granados May 6, 2004
Macario Fernández Álvarez December 20, 2004
Enriqueta Fernández García October 4, 2004
Laureano Fernández Vázquez June 13, 2004
Robert A. Freeley November 3, 2004
Alfredo Freije Uriarte July 27, 2004
Valentín Frutos Garrido October 27, 2004
Rafael Fusté Ribes September 24, 2004

Rafael Gandía Soriano December 31, 2004
Rosa María García Arias December 12, 2004
Ana María García Hernández-Ros August 2, 2004
Joaquín García Martín August 27, 2004
Salvador García Piñero December 19, 2004
Teodoro García-Pelayo Gross December 10, 2004
María Angeles García-Taheño y Ovejero December 16, 2004
María Victoria Garí Arana October 16, 2004
Fernando Garrido Oliver September 30, 2004
María Elvia Garza Elizondo October 19, 2004
María Isabel Garzón Valdenebro October ,27 2004
Fermina Gáscue Unanua October 18, 2004
Aurora Gil Curberá November 30, 2004
Vicente Gilabert Muñoz June 22, 2004
Constance Gillan July 6, 2004
María Amalia Gimeno Garcia September 13, 2004
Emmanuel Gnohan November 16, 2004
Ignacio Gomá Salcedo December 28, 2004
Angela Gómez de Arrubarrena July 9, 2004
Juan Luis Gómez Crespo December 25, 2004
José Rafael Gómez Fons June 23, 2004
Mariela Gómez de Pinzón October 27, 2004
María Elena González Gatica December 3, 2004
María José González Ramallo September 30, 2004
Donatilo Gómez Sanabria August 29, 2004
Francisco González Martínez September 5, 2004
Felicísimo González Sánchez November 4, 2004
Antonio González Sobaco December 7, 2004
José Miguel Goñi Demarchi August 14, 2004
Angela Granados Sanz July 15, 2004
José Grifol Bellet December 22, 2004
José Guerra Pérez August 14, 2004

Juana Herrero Cabellos July 11, 2004
Giacomo Hopps November 28, 2004

José Manuel Ibáñez Noya June 1, 2004
Amelia Irazazábal Narpell November 27, 2004
Joseph E. Isacco December 20, 2004
Isabel Izquierdo Castro December 1, 2004

Ann Jans September 23, 2004

Emma Kirkwood de Leighton July 25, 2004
Alvaro de Lacalle Leloup September 1, 2004
Madeleine Lafleur St-Maurice December 28, 2004
Emerson C. Lane November 6, 2004
María Justa León Arias de Saavedra December 31, 2004
María Salomé Llovo Guillán December 19, 2004
Encarnación López-Sáez Sánchez de Molina November 19, 2004
Gloria Lórenz Aguilar October 22, 2004
Pedro Lozano Garzón October 7, 2004
Salvadora Luzón Juan December 3, 2004

Ester Mansilla de Liutti October 21, 2004
Manuel Marcos Arteaga July 28, 2004
Faustino Carlos Mardomingo Varela August 27, 2004
Francisco Marín Fuentes September 20, 2004
Jaume Lluís Martín Font August 4, 2004
Emilio Martín Muñoz December 29, 2004
José Martín Rodríguez July 13, 2004
Marjorie Martinez December 2, 2004
Juan Manuel Martínez Busutil October 4, 2004
José Antonio Martínez-Darve Martínez-Darve September 18, 2004
Amalia Martínez-Pardo Laméyer December 16, 2004
José Tiburcio Marzari Céspedes May 27, 2004
Salomé Medina García July 18, 2004
Pilar Medina Vergara October 16, 2004
José Benjamin Mellinger December 3, 2004
Aurelio Mendiguchía Quijada July 5, 2004
María Francisca Millaruelo Clementez September 30, 2004
José Miner Liceaga June 30, 2004
Nieves Mirat López December 2, 2004
María Pilar Monedero Iguaz August 21, 2004
Magdalena María Montes de Oca de Múñiz August 31, 2004
Carmen Morales de Cortés November 26, 2004
Marta Victoria Moreno de Pérez December 24, 2004
María Rosa Morillo Pacheco November 10, 2004
José María Morúa Otegui October 1, 2004
Carlos Julio Mosquera Duportal July 9, 2004
Montserrat Moya Ruiz November 15, 2004
Leonard Mukendi Mbuyi May 23, 2004
Caridad Muñoz Ortiz July 7, 2004

Concepción Nalda Pons August 14, 2004
María del Carmen Nava Ordiales December 10, 2004
Miguel Angel Navarro García October 5, 2004
María Luisa Nieto Moreno de Guerra December 30, 2004

Mary Elizabeth O’Leary September 2, 2004
Luz Ontiveros Parga November 10, 2004
Margarita Ortega Torrescusa August 24, 2004
Sara Josefina Ortiz Luna December27 , 2004

José Palazón Díaz June 30, 2004
Rafael Palencia Herráiz October 15, 2004
Marie Pannequin February 17, 2004
Joan Paredes Hernández August 6, 2004
Fermín Peláez Velasco December 20, 2004
María del Carmen Perales Martínez August 18, 2004
Casimiro Pereda Sáiz November 27, 2004
Ángel Pérez Fernández July 15, 2004
Emilia María Pérez García September 20, 2004
Pius Phillips November 30, 2004
Maria Palmira de Morães Pinto Duarte December 6, 2004
Inés Pisati de Mase December 12, 2004
Antonio Plaza Bermejo July 25, 2004
Flora Prieto Hernando December 30, 2004
Moisés Puente Castro July 6, 2004
Margarita Pueyo Usieto December 31, 2004

Laureano Quesada Fernández September 3, 2004
Angelines Quintero Paz November 13, 2004

Isabel Ramos Vda. de Villela September 1, 2004
Yolanda Reyes Alberto December 3, 2004
Mercedes Rivarola de Migone August 22, 2004
Juan Manuel Rivera Urruti August 7, 2004
Emilia María Rodríguez Cantero August 13, 2004
Francisco Rodríguez Hernández August 29, 2004
José Bernardo Rodríguez Martínez May 21, 2004
Francisco Romero Cabezas June 25, 2004
José Romero Cordero June 19, 2004
Carmen Rosa Prat October 2, 2004
Francisca Rosas Cruz August 4, 2004
Concepción Roure Linhaff August 27, 2004
Esther Rubio Legazpi October 6, 2004
Alejandro Ruiz Ortego July 21, 2004
Pedro Juan Rullán Rodríguez June 22, 2004

José Sabater Gornals November 13, 2004
Luz María Sahagún Acuña de Lamadrid July 23, 2004
Magdalena Salla Pallás September 16, 2004
Simón Sánchez García October 28, 2004
Miguel Ángel Sánchez Gutiérrez-de-Rozas September 30, 2004
Manuel Sancho Castellano June 24, 2004
Encarnación Santamaría Rovira September 18, 2004
Evangeline Sayas Ancanan December 11, 2004
María Asunción Sierra Seoane December 16, 2004
José Silva Vargas November 4, 2004
Francesc Solé Mallafré October 13, 2004
Julio Juan Sosa Cazales September 13, 2004
María Dolores Soto Camino October 28, 2004

Raquel Thauby de von Unger August 23, 2004
Elisabeth Catharina Traats December 27, 2004
Norma Tyson November 30, 2004

Gerardo Ureta Fernández October 30, 2004
Arturo Urgoiti Abascal October 19, 2004

Bartolomé Vargas Escobar October 9, 2004
María Luisa Velasco García-Pimentel September 29, 2004
Rafaela Velasco Rodrigo July 24, 2004
Maria Johanna Verstappen July 30, 2004
Isabel María Vicente Vicente October 13, 2004
Josep Maria Vidal Figueras July 17, 2004
Marcelo Vidal Sosa Días December 18, 2004
Pilar Villán Bertrán September 10, 2004
Homero Villarreal Lozano April 27, 2004

Candida Wachoro Reriani November 10, 2004

Magdalena Ybarra Zayas August 28, 2004
Waldemar Zaidler August 7, 2004
José Ignacio Zamora Díaz November 2, 2004

Members of the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross who died during this half year:

Juan Florentino Bravo Carrera was born in Vigo, Spain, on November 21, 1918 and was ordained a priest on June 25, 1950. He was the first Associate of the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross in Galicia. In 1977 he moved to Ibarra, Ecuador, to start the diocesan seminary there. Always calm, smiling and humble, he was, for the seminarians and priests of the diocese, a living example of priestly virtues and of love for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and for the Blessed Virgin. Although he suffered for many years from a cardiac condition, his health only deteriorated notably in his last three months. He died in Ibarra on October 17, 2004.

The other members of the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross who died during these six months are:

Josep Bars Borràs October 17, 2004
Héctor Blanco Tato November 2, 2004
Juan Calavia Val October 8, 2004
Juan Carrió Mut November 1, 2004
Víctor Honorato Cobo Cobo August 17, 2004
José Codinach Alavedra November 28, 2004
Enric Domènech Bagés October 20, 2004
Jerónimo Durán Baena November 15, 2004
Jaime Rigoberto Justicia Vega December 25, 2004
Francisco Navarro Aguado November 25, 2004
José Novato Martín García July 15, 2004
Antonio Muñoz Gutiérrez July 29, 2004
Alessandro Persichetti September 3, 2004
Juan José Polo Rubio November 28, 2004
Jesús Rodrigo de Sande November 5, 2004
Luis Rodríguez Portugal September 25, 2004
Lluís Roqué Roqué October 2, 2004
Alfredo Ruiz-Tagle Jiménez July 11, 2004
Pedro Domingo Scarzella Niello November 8, 2004
Germán Varela Caamaño August 13, 2004
Víctor Vázquez Rodríguez December 15, 2004