ACI Prensa Staff, Sep 4, 2025 / 15:54 pm

The bishop of Paterson, New Jersey, Kevin J. Sweeney, offered the funeral Mass for Father Rafael Ángel Ciro, a 45-year-old Colombian priest who died by suicide on Aug. 27. In a heartfelt homily on Sept. 3, Sweeney recalled that Jesus, who understands our pain and suffering, “is here and comforts us.”

In his opening remarks in both English and Spanish, the bishop addressed the priest’s mother, Elena Guarín, and his brother Jairo, saying: “We are with you, with you and the entire family there in Colombia. We are all one family, with our Bishop Emeritus [Arthur] Serratelli, with all the priests. We are also your children, Doña Elena: The mother of one priest is the mother of all priests. You are also our mom.”

“We share the pain, but we also sha

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