(ANS – Porto Novo) – Yesterday Thursday 1 December, the mortal remains of Álvaro Gutiérrez a  missionary volunteer with the Spanish Salesian NGO “Jóvenes y Desarrollo” who died on 25 November at Porto-Novo (Benin) from a serious illness arrived in Madrid-Barajas. The funeral Mass was said in the evening  in the Mary Help of Christians parish of the Salesians in Atocha.

Álvaro Gutiérrez Morales Vara de Rey was 43 years of age and was living in Pozuelo de Alarcón (Madrid) when he decided to devote his life to the street children in Porto-Novo, sharing the life and the mission of the Salesians. He was one of the lay volunteers who on 25 September, in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians, received the missionary cross for the Rector Major, as part of the 142nd Salesian missionary expedition with three other young volunteers from Jóvenes y Desarrollo (JyD).

Mr Gutiérrez had already been working in Benin for six months looking after the “Foyer Don Bosco” farm and sharing in the Salesian mission. He had told his friends that he wanted to stay for another year and even to stay and work in Benin indefinitely. Those who knew him say that in that African country he had found a purpose in his life and was happy.

For the Salesian Missions, the NGO JyD, and the Salesian Family in Madrid, his death is a great loss. In announcing the funeral, in a statement  the Madrid Province wrote “on the one hand our presence will bear witness to our affection and closeness to the family and friends who are very upset at this sad event, and on the other will show how important to us is the example of people who live their vocation in evangelising those in the greatest need.”

Published 02/12/2011