In full Eucharistic celebration, and just after distributing communion, Fr. José de Luz Rosales Castañeda died, affectionately called “Father Cheluz” this Sunday, September 21 at 62, victim of a heart attack in Durango (Mexico).
According to information shared by ACI Press, the Diocese of Gomez Palacio, where the priest served, informed that “he died after giving communion. He was already purifying the chalice when he vanished.” On the causes of his death, he said that “it was natural death, a heart attack.”
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Originally from Rio Grande, Zacatecas, he was ordained a priest on May 9, 1990 in the city of Durango. His last pastoral commission was the pastor of the community of Jesús de Nazareth, in the municipality of Lerdo. In addition, he was a spiritual director in the diocese of Mexican night worship, association of Pontifical Law lay people.
Those who treated him highlight that his ministry was deeply marked by the Eucharist. In an interview with ACI Press, Rafael de la Rosa Hernández, catechist and extraordinary minister of communion in his parish, remembered him as a “humble, simple (…) man delivered in his service”.
He added that he had a “great love for Jesus Eucharist. At the end of the Mass, I always told the community that he had to make reverence, genuflection, be 5, 10 or 30 minutes before the Blessed Sacrament.”
This testimony was also reflected in his visits to the communities of the parish, where he used to stay long hours in worship. De la Rosa said that this delivery “helped many people could replace their relationship with God, be closer to God.”
Fr. Luis Armando Carlos Alfaro, secretary of the Communication Office of the Diocese, agreed that he was an “enthusiastic and great love of Christ Eucharist”.
Speaking to ACI Press, he recalled that the “Father Cheluz” on one occasion commented “that it would be beautiful to have the joy of having in his hands the body of the Lord at the last moment of his life. And so it was, what he had in his hands before the Father died went to Our Lord.” In this regard, he said that for him his departure “has a very large meaning.”
Diego López Colín
I am a graduate of journalism at the Carlos Septién García school with experience of religious institutional communication. Since 2016 I write for digital media and, since 2018, I report the most important news about the Catholic event in Mexico for the Ewtn news channel. ACI Press correspondent in Mexico since 2023.