Greetings to you all.
Very sad news today, Fr. Adrian Altamirano of the Argentine delegature died this morning, RIP.
When he did not appear this morning Tom O’Donnell and Fernando Bello went to his room and found that he had died. Adrian had suffered a massive internal hemorrhage. Adrian was 45.
I have not heard details of the funeral arrangements yet and will send another e-mail when I have them.
Please pray for the repose of his soul in your masses this weekend and for consolation for his mother, brother, sisters and all his family. May he rest in peace.
Fr. Derry Murphy sac
Provincial
Sunday January 26, 2014
Funeral arrangements for Fr. Adrian. His remains will be waked in the parish church of San Patricio, Mercedes, today Sunday evening after the evening Mass and the concelebrated requiem Mass will be on Monday at 10am.
Fr. Adrian Altamirano, RIP. (From the Provincial Newsletter by Fr. Derry Murphy sac)
Fr Adrian Altamirano died suddenly and unexpectedly on Saturday January 25, RIP. Adrian suffered two brain haemorrhages in April 2013 and made a remarkable recovery and was happily fulfilling his ministry in Mercedes. He still had some underlying health issues and he died following what the doctor termed ‘a massive internal haemorrhage’ in the early hours of January 25.
Adrian did not appear for breakfast and Tom O’Donnell, the parish priest and Fernando Bello, who had arrived to drive him to an appointment in Buenos Aires, went to his room and found him dead. The doctor of the community, Eduardo Ramos Iglesias was called as were the police because his death was sudden. Dr Ramos diagnosed an internal haemorrhage.
His death was a great shock to the Pallottine community in the Argentine and to his mother and family. In order to allow time for all his family and the priests to gather for the funeral it was decided to hold the wake and viewing on Sunday afternoon in St Patrick’s Church Mercedes. The concelebrated requiem Mass on Monday at 10 was celebrated by the Archbishop of Mercedes-Lujan, Mgr Augustin Radrizzani who was accompanied by 19 concelebrants and a further 14-15 priests had come to pay their respects at the wake the previous evening.
It was noteworthy the number of persons who travelled from all our Pallottine parishes to pay their respects. Tom O’Donnell was particularly struck by the number of members of the Scout Movement who travelled to be present, some of them related how Adrian had helped start up their troop and had accompanied them in the initial stages even though they did not belong to a Pallottine parish. Tom estimated that there were over 700 persons in the church for the Requiem Mass with a notable number of young persons.
Mgr Radrizzani in his homily spoke of Adrian as a true father would speak of his son, he spoke of Adrian’s active and energetic participation in all meetings of priests in the deanery and of his interest in all matters of common concern. He emphasized Adrian’s outgoing personality, his ability to meet people, to mix with people and be at ease in all kinds of company, he spoke of his presence at wakes and funerals and his selfless readiness to accompany the bereaved.
Fernando Bello who was a student with Adrian and a true and loyal friend spoke at the end of the Mass on behalf of the Community.
Adrian was buried in the Pallottine plot in the Municipal Cemetery in Mercedes along with his friend and companion the late Fr Adrian Francioli who died in a car accident on March 13 2006.
Adrian’s father predeceased him, he is survived by his mother Nelly, her husband Vincent, his brother Alejandro and his sisters Valeria and Vanesa and their families.
Adrian was born on April 2 1968 in Cordoba, his family moved to the greater Buenos Aires area when he was a child. He qualified as an air-craft mechanic with the Argentine Air Force. His vocation to the priesthood grew when he was in his 20s and he was greatly encouraged by his friend and mentor Ana Oxenford and it was Ana who introduced him to the Pallottines. He joined the Pallottine Community as a postulant in April 1995 and was received into the formation community in Mercedes. He studied at the Profesorado Ciudad de Mercedes and qualified with a degree in Philosophy, Psychology and Pedagogy.
Adrian travelled to the Pallottine Novitiate at Cascavel, the State of Parana, Brazil in January 1999; on completing the Canonical Novitiate Year he made his first Pallottine Profession or Consecration, on February 20 2000; he made Perpetual Consecration on February 21 2003 and had a pastoral year, Adrian was ordained a priest on December 18 2004. He served in Belgrano, Castelar and for the last seven years in Mercedes.
May his good soul rest in the peace of the Lord.