In the first half of 2006, 267 faithful of the Prelature and 13 members of the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross passed away.

The suffrages stipulated by Saint Josemaría 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 and neighbor 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.

Jesús Álvarez Gazapo was born in Zamora, Spain, on March 8, 1929. He requested admission to Opus Dei in March 1948. After studying architecture in Madrid, in 1952 he went to Rome. He lived there until February 2005, when he moved to Pamplona for treatment of a cerebral tumor which, in the end, was found to be incurable. From 1952 until 1990 he designed and directed construction work on the central headquarters of Opus Dei and the Roman College of the Holy Cross, as well as other buildings destined for the apostolic activities of the Work. From Rome he also provided architectural evaluations of projects being carried out in other countries. St. Josemaría relied on his loyal assistance, as did Don Álvaro after 1975. In 1990 he was ordained a priest and dedicated himself untiringly to tasks of formation and government in the Prelature, carrying out the jobs entrusted to him with self-denial and a supernatural spirit. He was appointed the delegate of the Prelate of Opus Dei in Austria and in the Baltic countries. He was known for his exemplary dedication, his simplicity, his humility, and his positive spirit. He died on May 14, 2006.

Manuel Alfonso Calderón Alcalde was born in Marchena, Spain, on January 1, 1929. He asked for admission as a numerary on March 19, 1950 in Cordoba, where he was studying Veterinary Medicine. He arrived in Mexico in 1952, and began the apostolic work with farm workers living near the old hacienda of Montefalco, in the Amilpas Valley. Later he spent time in Culiacan and in Mexico City, where he carried out an intense professional and apostolic activity. Following a long sickness that he bore in a holy way, he died on May 8, 2006.

Michele Curatola was born in Gioia Tauro (Calabria, Italy) on August 21, 1917. He met Opus Dei in Rome at a mature age and joined at the age of forty. He was a lawyer and university teacher with great prestige. Through his professional competence he contributed decisively to the beginning of many apostolic initiatives, including the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross and Centro Elis in Rome, as well as university residences in various cities of Italy. With great human and spiritual tranquility, he carried out a quiet but effective apostolate. He died in Rome on May 27, 2006.

Joseph Debra was born in Strasbourg, France, on December 28, 1921. He joined the French army at the end of the Second World War and served as an officer in various countries. He always considered himself a part of the military although he taught German for more than fifteen years in an educational institution in Strasbourg. He met the Work during that period, when the apostolic work was still being carried out by people living in Paris. One of the first supernumeraries in Alsace, he had four children and many grandchildren. As his health progressively declined during his final months, he bore his sufferings with great supernatural outlook. He died on January 3, 2006 in a hospital in Strasbourg, holding in his hands a rosary he kept as a remembrance of Don Álvaro del Portillo, who had given it to him years ago in Rome.

Gabriela Duclaud was the second Mexican numerary of the women’s branch. After spending some time in Rome working in tasks of government, in 1955 she moved to the United States. She carried out apostolic work in Washington, New York, Boston, Chicago and San Francisco. Her concern to live the spirit of Opus Dei faithfully was proverbial. She always kept in mind the special responsibility she had due to having lived in Rome close to St. Josemaría. She died on April 19, 2006.

Magín Fuertes Agúndezdied on May 13, 2006. He was the father of eleven children. At the beginning of the ‘70s he helped start an important educational undertaking in Andalusia and Extremadura that now numbers eighteen single-sex high schools. His great human enthusiasm and supernatural faith helped him overcome the many difficulties the project confronted in its early years.

Carlos García-Villalba González was born in Granada, Spain on October 19, 1934, and died on May 18, 2006 in the same city as a result of cancer of the esophagus. He asked for admission to Opus Dei at a very young age, and was ordained a priest in 1960. For seven years he was the chaplain of the National Police Corps. Since 1995 he had been rector of the Shrine of Torreciudad. He spent the last years of his life in Malaga and Granada, providing priestly attention for various apostolic works. He offered our Lord the sufferings caused by his final sickness, which lasted two and a half years. When his suffering became more intense, he never lost his optimism and good humor. The doctors and nurses who treated him during his final year were impressed by his affection, cheerfulness and courage.

Emiliano Lunerti was born in Rome on January 23, 1973. He was a mechanical engineer. In March 2005 he was diagnosed with an advanced tumor in his liver and pancreas. From the first moment he accepted his sickness with faith and optimism. For him, it was an opportunity to offer his life once more to God through our Lady. He had been an Associate of the Prelature since August 1993. Right up to his last day he gave admirable example of dedication to souls. He died on March 11, 2006.

María José Monterde Albiac was born on March 14, 1929, in Saragossa, Spain, and joined the Work in that city on January 2, 1951. Shortly thereafter she moved to Rome and later to Mexico, where she assisted the early stages of the apostolic work in that country, for which she always felt a special affection. In 1970, after a second, shorter, stay in Rome, she returned to Spain. An untiring worker, she bore with supernatural heroism the sickness from which she died. She passed away in Madrid on February 2, 2006.

Francisco Ramos Elizalde died on May 30, 2006. He was born in Moctezuma (Sonora, Mexico) on September 12, 1937, and requested admission to the Work on September 29, 1958. He went to Uruguay to help begin the apostolic work in that country. Ordained a priest on June 2, 1985, he spent the greater part of his priestly life in Montefalco, Morelos, taking care of farm families. His apostolic zeal, spirit of sacrifice, and cheerfulness gained him the regard of the people in the area. A number of priests from the State of Morelos took part in his funeral and burial, which was attended by over a thousand people from the surrounding villages.

Gonzalo Redondo Gálvez was born in 1936, in Don Benito (Badajoz, Spain). He joined Opus Dei while a student and was ordained a priest in 1964. He held a doctorate in History and degrees in Information Sciences and in Canon Law. He wrote several books on the history of the Church, and from 1987 on undertook an ambitious project to assemble personal archives for historical research. These sources were used to establish the Spanish History Collection in the General Archives of the University of Navarra. He died after a long illness on April 18, 2006.

Hilde Rhonheimer, Jewish by birth, was baptized a Catholic on July 4, 1964. She requested admission to Opus Dei on February 12, 1974, as one of the first supernumeraries in Switzerland. She was characterized by her faithfulness to the magisterium and her zeal to bring the members of her family to the faith and to the Work. She had the joy of attending the baptism of her husband, also Jewish, in 1976 and the priestly ordination, by Pope John Paul II, of a numerary son in 1982. She died on March 4, 2006, from a debilitating cerebral disease which had kept her confined to bed for her last six years.

Ana Rodríguez de Jiménez was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, on August 3, 1920. She joined Opus Dei in 1978, and since that time carefully fulfilled her daily practices of Christian piety while carrying out an extensive apostolate. As a mother and spouse she was an example to everyone. She suffered for a number of years from Alzheimer’s disease, and also from cancer at the end of her life. She died on January 1, 2006, after receiving the Anointing of the Sick.

Jorge Rossi Chavarría was born in Cartago, Costa Rica, on January 25, 1922. As a businessman, he was one of the principal promoters of banana production in the country. As a politician, he served his country at various times as Vice-President, treasury minister, and legislative deputy. In addition he was president of the Central Bank. His social concern led him to oversee projects to provide land for peasants and housing for workers, dedicating his personal patrimony to these efforts. He requested admission to Opus Dei in 1963 as one of the first supernumeraries in Costa Rica. He helped bring forward a number of apostolic undertakings, including the Miravalles University Center, whose fund-raising board he presided over until his death. He died on January 3, 2006 of a heart ailment. He had continued working in his office up till the preceding day.

Vicenta San Antonio Morales was born in Bustares (Guadalajara, Spain) on January 22, 1913. She met Opus Dei when she began working as a domestic employee in the Moncloa Student Residence in Madrid. She requested admission as a numerary assistant on December 1, 1946. From 1949 to 1965 she worked in Rome, close to the Founder of Opus Dei. She died on May 17, 2006, in Madrid. Her whole life had been an example of generous and humble dedication, serving others while passing unnoticed and assisting in the formation of young people.

Peter Soeters was born in Maastricht in the Netherlands on July 26, 1947. A composer and pianist, he was the father of five children. He was a member of Opus Dei since March 19, 1988. In the conservatory of Maastricht, where he taught until a few weeks before his death, he enjoyed great professional prestige and was highly esteemed by his colleagues and students. In the summer of 2002, pancreatic cancer was diagnosed. After an initial medical treatment that produced a much better result than expected, he composed a Missa brevis that he dedicated to St. Josemaría in gratitude for his rapid recovery. In August 2005 he went with his wife and five children to Torreciudad, where this work was presented on the feastday of our Lady. He took a great liking to the image of Our Lady of Torreciudad, and preserved an especially affectionate memory of that visit to her shrine. After January 2006, his health worsened substantially and he died on May 2. He offered all his sufferings to God and bore his sickness in an exemplary way.

Luis Valls-Taberner Arno was born in Barcelona on June 5, 1926 and died in Madrid on February 25, 2006. He met St. Josemaría in Barcelona, where he was studying law, and joined Opus Dei on April 1, 1945. He was a professor of Political Economy in the Schools of Law in Barcelona and Madrid from 1948 to 1956. In 1957 he began working in banking, and from 1972 to 2004 was president of a well-known banking enterprise. He considered his work as a social commitment and a service to others. Thousands of people have benefited from the educational and social activities that he promoted throughout his career.

Julia Villanueva Arnao was born in Huaraz, Peru, on May 8, 1928. After studying painting and sculpture, she employed her artistic gifts especially in the field of ceramic art. She met Opus Dei in Barcelona in 1955, while taking a course in ceramic techniques. Upon her return to Peru she made contact with the means of formation provided by the Work and on March 2, 1956 asked for admission as an associate. She was the first woman associate of Opus Dei in Peru. Throughout her life she was always very concerned about others’ needs. She bore with a supernatural and apostolic spirit the cancer that ended her life. Despite poor health, during her final years she never ceased making plans to bring her friends and acquaintances to God and to the Work. She died in Lima on April 24, 2006.

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

Vicente Aguirre Aizpurúa February 21, 2006
Antonio Aldaz Gazólaz January 23, 2006
María Helena Allende Posse de Saravia April 13, 2006
Fernando Almarza Laguna de Rins March 31, 2006
Felisa Alvarado de Ramallo June 11, 2006
Sara Álvarez de Martínez May 25, 2006
Julia Álvarez Robledillo January 3, 2006
Francisco Javier Alviz Aguayo January 7, 2006
Ana Isabel Arévalo Ram January 21, 2006
María Josefa Armiño García June 26, 2006
Amalia Arreola Gamiño February 7, 2006
Jorge I. Arrese Meschini May 21, 2006
María Arroyo Vda. de Parrodi March 22, 2006
Felipe Artiñano Hernández January 14, 2006
Lourdes Atilano Conde March 10, 2006
Giovanna Azzaro in d'Ali February 13, 2006

Catalina Ballester Cruellas February 6, 2006
Luis Barón Mora-Figueroa February 27, 2006
Maria da Conceição Teles Barreto March 12, 2006
Antonieta Basave Vda. de Ugarte March 13, 2006
Õñigo Bau Blasi January 10, 2006
Teresa Justa Becar Varela de Mattío January 3, 2006
Joaquín Bellver Bellver May 29, 2006
Julia Beltrán Andreu April 1, 2006
Soledad Bernard Vda. de Alemán April 17, 2006
Enrique Berbel González May 1, 2006
Manuel Blasco Cañeque April 11, 2006
Jean Bourguin June 19, 2006
Remedios Bravo Cordero February 13, 2006
Renate Breuer June 30, 2006

María Pilar Caballero Gil May 7, 2006
Félix Ramiro Caballero Macías April 13, 2006
María Dolores Cabo Montes January 26, 2006
Angelo Calò January 15, 2006
Tomás Calvar González-Aller January 26, 2006
Leticia Calvarido Austria June 12, 2006
Carmelo Campas Núñez January 8, 2006
Juan José Cano Pérez March 4, 2006
Michel Carrier February 27, 2006
Ricarda Carrillo Morales February 5, 2006
María Carvajal Torres April 3, 2006
Carlos Casal Fernández June 23, 2006
Frigidiana Castellote Bueno April 5, 2006
Aurea María Castells Vila March 2, 2006
Antonio Colina Arredondo March 13, 2006
María Asunción Coma Riera June 5, 2006
Alda Aguiar Corte-Real May 7, 2006
Alicia Couttolenc Vda. de Villar, March 31, 2006
Inés Couve Echeverría March 19, 2006
Rafaella Crema in Vaccaro June 17, 2006
Fernando Criado Ortega May 22, 2006
José Andrés Cuesta Menéndez January 17, 2006

Jean De Siebenthal February 5, 2006
Margarita Díaz Leal Vda. de Coghlan April 28, 2006
Manuel Diz Mateos June 27, 2006
Irene da Conceição Nunes Duarte May 5, 2006
Alicia Duque Ramírez March 31, 2006
Baldomero Durán Girau June 5, 2006
Manuel Durán Ros January 8, 2006
Victoria Durán de Torres January 7, 2006

Javier Francisco Elizalde de Laínez November 30, 2005
Susana Errecarte de Eguren June 17, 2006
Inés Escobar de Vélez January 10, 2006
María Espinoza Morales January 6, 2006

Fabrizio Fabbri April 14, 2006
María Carmen Fernández de Peñaranda y Plasencia May 1l, 2006
Mercedes Fernández Trujillo January 19, 2006
José Manuel Fortes González May 11, 2006
Carlos Cándido Fraile Casares April 29, 2006
María Frías del Val May 16, 2006

Josefa Gabaldón Cremonesis June 11, 2006
José Gaitán Castillo January 14, 2006
Francisco Galán Dominguez May 2, 2006
Antonio Galán Lechuga April 19, 2006
Kathleen Gallagher April 21, 2006
José Maria Gallego Málaga February 25, 2006
Antonio Gámez Juanes April 19, 2006
Marina García Castellón April 25, 2006
Abundio García Fernández May 14, 2006
Nieves García Gilabert January 11, 2006
Elena García de Pablos February 26, 2006
José María García Pérez May 6, 2006
Enrique García de Vinuesa Domínguez April 7, 2006
Pilar Garitagoitia Blasco June 12, 2006
Carmen Gerpe Rey January 25, 2006
Fermín Gimeno Clavería May 3, 2006
Carlos Gómez Estopiñán April 21, 2006
José María Gómez Nieto April 8, 2006
Concepción Gómez-Godino Holgado March 8, 2006
Guadalupe González de Cobo January 16, 2006
Margarita González de Mercado May 28, 2006
Amelia González Hernández February 23, 2006
Ramona González Penas February 3, 2006
Emilia Goñi Larráyoz May 27, 2006
Julia Isabel Gosálvez de Velasco January 19, 2006
Matilde Gullón Torro March 31, 2006
José María Gutiérrez Aguirre February 16, 2006
Martha Gutiérrez de Villalba January 21, 2006

Richard F. Hall March 6, 2006
Alberto O. Hawkes Gilligan February 8, 2006
Helena Hernández de Durán June 15, 2006
Carmen Hernández Medina February 6, 2006
Esperanza Hernando San Cristóbal May 7, 2006
Pedro Herrero Villalón March 22, 2006

Aurelia Ibarz Gombau June 28, 2006
Jaime Íñiguez Herrero February 13, 2006

Patricio José Izquierdo Sarró April 18, 2006
Paul Joannon Infante January 8, 2006
Alberto José de Juana González May 26, 2006

Mary Immaculate Wanjiku Kariuki January 30, 2006
Molly Kenna January 6, 2006

Isabel Lafeé de Landáez June 29, 2006
Peter Lazo Reyes April 22, 2006
Graciela Leal de González May 20, 2006
Ernesto Lecuona Delgado May 5, 2006
Nuria Llasat Farnos May 26, 2006
Francisco López Martínez March 25, 2006
Joaquín López Navarro February 11, 2006
Juan López Ocaña January 18, 2006
Rosa María López Sala January 23, 2006
Juan López Saniger April 28, 2006
Camilo López-Pardo López-Pardo June 8, 2006
María José Lostao Boya April 3, 2006
Antonio Lova Bujía April 24, 2006
Soledad Loyola de Ibarra April 26, 2006
Emilia Llovet Tàpies January 15, 2006
Julián Lucendo Aguilera February 4, 2006

Alberto Madrigal Llorente June 14, 2006
Victoria Mandujano Escutia February 6, 2006
Cecilia Manrique de Restrepo June 10, 2006
Carmen Mantilla de Acevedo June 12, 2006
María Marcet Ballber May 17, 2006
Pilar Martínez Coca February 11, 2006
Leopoldo Martínez Ruiz January 30, 2006
Olga Marulanda de Turbay March 2, 2006
Ernestina Medellín de Gil April 3, 2006
María Rosa Mejido Varela June 29, 2006
Carlos Merino Zalba January 18, 2006
María Cristina Mijares de Gutiérrez January 21, 2006
Carmen Millán Vázquez February 9, 2006
Jaime Millás Mossi June 11, 2006
Margherita Minchilli January 25, 2006
Sergio Minchilli June 28, 2006
Ángela Miranda Santos February 6, 2006
Rafael Miquel Dorba March 18, 2006
Olga María Mirón Alejos March 16, 2006
Florentín Molinos Cases January 19, 2006
Enrique Monfort Alabau June 13, 2006
María Gloria Montiano Urcelay January 20, 2006
Juan Luis Moreno Lozano May 23, 2006
Guillermo Antonio Moreno Muñoz May 4, 2006
Nelly Aurora Moyano de Ribarossa February 1, 2006
Concepción Muniaín Vda. de Gutiérrez March 4, 2006
Manuel Munné Mer June 2, 2006
Isabel Muriel Napier June 20, 2006
Emilio Murra Talamás May 29, 2006

Charles Nickol April 6, 2006

Mercedes Oar Deusto February 7, 2006
Susan Obi February 8, 2006
Manuel Obrero de la Cruz May 22, 2006
Maureen O'Buachalla February 12, 2006
Jesús María Olave Oteiza June 7, 2006
Ana María Olivera de Lo Valvo January 27, 2006
Josefina Ordóñez González March 13, 2006
Fernando Orellana Toledano March 11, 2006
José Luis Otín Mallada February 2, 2006

Juan Palencia Cuadrillero February 10, 2006
Elia Pastor Romeral January 22, 2006
María Dolores Peinado García February 28, 2006
José Luis Pelacho Vargas June 16, 2006
Emilia Pereda Vda. de Maza May 12, 2006
Mary de Pérez January 8, 2006
Maruja Pérez de Arango March 20, 2006
María Victoria Pérez Escalona May 29, 2006
Adolfo Pérez Gómez February 11, 2006
María Dolores Pérez Latorre January 7, 2006
Yolanda Pérez Ramos June 16, 2006
Corina Efigenia Fragoso Pessoa June 15, 2006
Silvestro Pettinato May 20, 2006
Josefina Piamonte Ticzon April 12, 2006
Eloy de la Pisa Alonso May 16, 2006
Eduardo Podestá Palermo May 15, 2006
Digna Portillo Díaz May 10, 2006
María de la Capilla Pueo February 12, 2006
Lidia Martha Pujolar de Eglantier April 6, 2006

Luisa Quevedo Suárez April 14, 2006

María Dolores Ramos Latorre February 19, 2006
Enriqueta Rebagliati de Peschiera January 18, 2006
Francisco Remacha Sebastián May 28, 2006
María Helena Restrepo Soto April 25, 2006
María Revilla Herreras March 11, 2006
Isabel Rodríguez Bare January 11, 2006
Manuel Rodríguez de Bethencourt García February 5, 2006
Manuel Roiz Noriega January 16, 2006
Ady Margarita Romero de Pérez Amado February 7, 2006
Concepción Andrea Romero Velasco January 11, 2006
Rosa María Rovira Alsina April 5, 2006
Elena Rougés de Wilde January 15, 2006
Juana Ruvalcaba González February 28, 2006

María Betty Saavedra de Salazar June 22, 2006
Felix Sádaba Anduela January 27, 2006
María Dolores Sainz Marrodán June 21, 2006
Ángeles Salmoral Nieto June 30, 2006
Xavier Salvans Arola April 13, 2006
Adolfo Sánchez Camino March 9, 2006
Amparo Sánchez Pablo June 8, 2006
Juan Sancho-Tello Mercadal May 28, 2006
Gaudencio Santa María Cantero February 2, 2006
Elizabeth Santomauro de De Simone June 8, 2006
Ángela Sanz Ortiz June 8, 2006
Frank Secchia March 24, 2006
Alicia Serrano Pérez April 11, 2006
Francisco Seva Herrera February 1, 2006
Helena Chebl Silva May 25, 2006
Francisco Sitjar de Togores Masferrer February 19, 2006
María Pilar Soto García March 15, 2006
María Dolores Soto Hesles May 28, 2006
Alejandro Sundblad Molina March 8, 2006
Nieves Susaeta Ogueta May 17, 2006

Juan Tamayo López January 16, 2006
Consuelo Tapias Sánchez-Barcaiztegui March 5, 2006
Ernesto Tarín Sierra April 9, 2006
Dolores Topete de Garza May 31, 2006
Isabel Torbay de Chamber May 13, 2006
Manuel Tornel Molina March 27, 2006
María Elena Trujillo de Alonzo June 14, 2006

Antonio Urbano Moreno January 12, 2006
Mercedes Ureña Ibarra June 30, 2006

Carmen Valdovinos Gil del Monte February 5, 2006
María Teresa Valldosera Montserrat May 14, 2006
María Magdalena Vanrell de Parietti April 17, 2006
Rafael Vargas Herrera June 2, 2006
Maria Vassallo February 23, 2006
Antonio de la Vega Aguilar January 11, 2006
Manuel Velarde Cañuelo May 14, 2006
Brígida Velasco Villamar January 27, 2006
María Luisa Vierna Arana April 2, 2006
María Victoria Vigellas del Cuvillo January 14, 2006
María Luisa Vilches Garrido April 25, 2006
Luis Villamor Mato January 7, 2006
Concepción Vivar Marín June 24, 2006
Eduardo Von Haeften Dupuy April 10, 2006

Mary Waier March 1, 2006
Maripaz Warleta de Warleta June 18, 2006
Oswald Joseph Wilson Lynch March 26, 2006

María Yarto Gutiérrez-Calderón April 28, 2006
Dennis A. Yosick June 29, 2006

Jorge Zamora Molina January 18, 2006
Guillermo Zanotti Uzal January 26, 2006


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

Custódio Alberto Ferreira Pinto, who died on June 15, 2006, had been preparing for his golden jubilee as a priest on July 7. He was pastor of various parishes in the diocese of Braga, Portugal, where he was an associate member of the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross since 1961.

Gerald Healy was born in Dublin on June 15, 1917. He was ordained in 1942. For more than half a century he worked in various parishes in Dublin. He was also, by appointment of the archbishop, diocesan chaplain for the Legion of Mary. Through this association’s bulletin, the talks he gave in their formational meetings were read for many years throughout the world. In 1967 he began attending activities for diocesan priests organized by Opus Dei, and in 1972 he asked for admission to the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross. His ministry was marked by his quiet, smiling, total dedication. He died on February 20, 2006, a few hours after returning from his final meeting with the Legion of Mary.

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

José Barreiro Gómez March 2, 2006
Joan Josep Comín Rubio January 21, 2006
Manuel Díaz del Moral December 19, 2005
Cesáreo Lamelas Padín November 3, 2005
Arturo Lozano Burzuri January 21, 2006
Josep Molas Aubert February 24, 2006
Manuel Mosteiro Núñez May 16, 2006
José María Osa Aguirre June 21, 2006
Ramón Rodríguez Alcalde March 15, 2006
Jesús Roldán Calvente May 17, 2006
Silvano Stanzani February 4, 2006