Eduardo Alas Alfaro

Eduardo Alas Alfaro (born July 2, 1930 in San Rafael , † February 27, 2020 in Chalatenango ) was a Salvadoran clergyman and Roman Catholic bishop of Chalatenango .

Life

Eduardo Alas Alfaro was ordained a priest on October 30, 1960 after completing his philosophical and theological training at the seminary in San Jose de la Montana .

Pope John Paul II appointed him on December 30, 1987 as the first bishop of the diocese of Chalatenango, established on the same date . The Apostolic Nuncio in El Salvador and Honduras , Archbishop Francesco De Nittis , donated him episcopal ordination on February 27 of the following year ; Co- consecrators were Marco René Revelo Contreras , Bishop of Santa Ana , and Arturo Rivera y Damas SDB , Archbishop of San Salvador . On April 21, 2007, Pope Benedict XVI. his resignation request submitted for health reasons.

His tenure coincided with the civil war in El Salvador between 1980 and 1991. During the war, Alas was known for delivering groceries and other necessities to parishioners in his Toyota jeep, at risk of his life and safety. His jeep served as a taxi, bus tow truck and ambulance to rescue injured soldiers. Many Catholic priests, men and women and lay catechists in his diocese were regularly kidnapped and murdered by death squads. In 1980, two American Maryknoll missionaries, another American nun, and a lay worker were murdered. Aduardo Alas was friends with Oscar Romero .

Shortly before his death he was awarded the "Orden al Mérito 5 de Noviembre 1811, Próceres de la Independencia Patria", the Order of Merit and the highest honor of the Parliament of El Salvador.

Web links

Entry on Eduardo Alas Alfaro on catholic-hierarchy.org

Individual evidence

↑ Rhina Guidos: "Once an unlikely candidate for the priesthood, Salvadoran bishop dies at 89" , CRUX, February 28, 2020 (en.)
↑ "Autorizan que al fallecer restos de monseñor Eduardo Alas sean inhumados en Catedral de Chalatenango" , on asamblea.gob.sv , February 21, 2020 (en.)

predecessor	Office	successor
---	Bishop of Chalatenango 1987-2007	Luis Morao Andreazza OFM

personal data
SURNAME	Alas Alfaro, Eduardo
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	Salvadoran clergyman, Roman Catholic Bishop of Chalatenango
DATE OF BIRTH	2nd July 1930
PLACE OF BIRTH	San Rafael
DATE OF DEATH	February 27, 2020
Place of death	Chalatenango

[1] Rhina Guidos: "Once an unlikely candidate for the priesthood, Salvadoran bishop dies at 89" , CRUX, February 28, 2020 (en.)

[2] "Autorizan que al fallecer restos de monseñor Eduardo Alas sean inhumados en Catedral de Chalatenango" , on asamblea.gob.sv , February 21, 2020 (en.)