Lima, Peru, Dec 5, 2018 / 00:58 am
The Salesian founder of Operation Mato Grosso, a ministry of service and job training for low-income people in South America, died December 3 at the age of 94.
Fr. Ugo de Censi had been bedridden for several months due to an illness, according to several media outlets.
The priest had served for 42 years in in Chacas, a city in the highlands of Peru. To pay their respects, all the parishes where de Censi served in the city rang church bells for 15 minutes, and Masses were celebrated at 1:00 p.m. The priest's body will be buried in Chacas on Wednesday.
The Agenzia Info Salesiana (ANS) described de Censi's life as "very intense, sacrificial, full of affection given and received, an example that influenced many young people. He encouraged thousands of youths, founded centers, parishes, trade schools, hospitals, shelters, institutes, seminaries and a monastery, but he especially cared for the poor and young people in need."