Blessed Father Manuel González and Adílio Daronch

Life of Father Manuel Gómez González

Father Manuel Gómez González was born on May 29, 1877 in São José de Ribarteme, in the Diocese of Tuy, Spain. On May 24, 1902, he was ordained a priest and exercised his priestly ministry in his native diocese for two years. In 1904, the request to be incardinated in the neighboring Diocese of Braga, Portugal, was granted. He served there as a parish priest from 1905 to 1913.

Missionary

Father González sailed to Brazil in 1913, when political and religious persecution began. After a brief stay in Rio de Janeiro, Dom Miguel de Lima Valverde welcomed him to the Diocese of Santa Maria (RS), and, on January 23, 1914, entrusted him with the position of parish priest of Saudade. In December 1915, Father González was transferred to the northern part of the diocese, to a large parish in Nonoai (RS). He dedicated himself to evangelization with such enthusiasm that, in the eight years of his ministry, he significantly improved the level of faith in this area . His ministry also included the pastoral care of native Indians and the position of parish administrator in the vacant parish of Palmeiras das Missões.

Adílio Daronch

Adílio Daronch, son of Pedro and Judite, was born on October 25, 1908, in Dona Francisca, in the municipality of Cachoeira do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. He was one of the teenagers who accompanied Father González on his long and tiring pastoral visits, including with the Kaingang Indians . He was also a faithful altar boy and student at the school founded by Father Manuel.

Martyrdom of both

The bishop of Santa Maria asked the Spanish priest to visit the Teutonic colonies in the Três Passos forest. They then accepted assistance from the military who offered to accompany them there. But they fell into the trap prepared for them and were taken to a remote area of the forest, where they were tied to trees and then shot on May 21, 1924. Thus, Father Manuel and Adílio became martyrs of the faith because of the hatred that their executioners had from the Catholic Church .

On December 16, 2006, Pope Benedict XVI proclaimed the decree of martyrdom of these two faithful servants of Christ murdered because of their faith. His remains were buried nearby for 40 years. In 1964, they were exhumed and transferred to the parish church of Nonoai (RS), and a monument was erected at the site of their martyrdom.