Death of Fr Helvécio Baruffi
(ANS – 22/2/2008, Vatican City) – Yesterday evening in the Pius XI Hospital
in Rome Fr Helvécio Baruffi, Councillor for the America South Cone Region
died.
Fr Baruffi, getting over an illness that had prevented him from taking part
in the work of the winter session of the Council, had just returned to Rome
to take part in the General Chapter, but even during the journey had taken
ill which meant that he had to go into hospital.
Fr Baruffi, born on 18 July 1944 at Luiz Alves, in the State of Santa
Catarina in Brazil, was completing his second term as Regional. After having
made his novitiate at Taquarì, he took his first vows on 31 January 1964.
During the post-novitiate he obtained a degree in Anglo-Germanic Languages
and Philosophy. A Deacon on 23 June 1973, he was ordained priest on 30
December 1973.
He held several responsible offices in the Brazilian Province of Porto
Alegre. In 1977 he was Rector of Ponta Grossa, and from 1984 for eight years
he was Director of Novices at Curitiba. Rector of Viamo for two years.
Appointed Provincial of Porto Alegre in 1990, at the GC24 he was chosen as
Regional Councillor for America South Cone.
In communicating the news of Fr Baruffi’s death, Fr Pascual Chávez
emphasised the passion with which he dedicated himself to his task: “the
death of Fr Helvécio is an occasion for great sorrow, but at the same time
we are convinced that his death will be a seed that will help the General
Council we are about to begin to bear fruit.”
Fr Baruffi’s funeral will be held on Tuesday 26 February in the church of
the Generalate.