On June 25, 2021, the Diocese of Juticalpa-Olancho in Honduras celebrated the 46th anniversary of the death of Friar Casimir CYPHER with great joy and hope. On June 25, 1975, Friar Casimir, along with thirteen other people, was brutally humiliated, savagely tortured and killed. His body was thrown down a well.
Despite health restrictions, the Most Reverend José BONELLO, OFM, Bishop of Juticalpa, Honduras, together with Father Orlín ARNOL CRUZ, the Pastor of the church in Gualaco, and other priests, went to the small church where the remains of Friar Casimir rest. There, they celebrated Mass with the faithful in grateful memory of Friar Casimir’s life, mission and witness. It was a simple and dignified celebration, with everyone singing heartfelt songs full of joy, hope and happiness.
In his homily, Bishop BONELLO underlined the efforts of the friars of the Provincial Custody of Mary, Mother of Mercy in Central America. The friars have been gathering testimony and all the other elements needed, so that, in the near future, the life and witness of Friar Casimir might be presented to the Church as a model for following Jesus, which the faithful may imitate. Furthermore, the bishop highlighted the heroic virtues of Friar Casimir and read some fragments of a letter written by Friar Emil COOK to the Minister Provincial of the Mother Province of Our Lady of Consolation in the USA (July 21, 1975). The letter recounts the events surrounding Friar Casimir’s martyrdom. The bishop also spoke about Friar Casimir’s love of creation as revealed in his various writings. Finally, the bishop invited everyone to be mindful of Friar Casimir’s story and to bear fruit in the life of faith and Christian commitment following the example of Friar Casimir’s life.
After the Mass, Bishop BONELLO and the concelebrants went to Friar Casimir’s tomb for a moment of prayer. Later, the parishioners visited the tomb to honor his memory. The tomb was beautifully decorated with flowers, a sign of the love and affection of the local people.
Today more than ever, Friar Casimir continues to be a sign of hope and life for the poor and for the pilgrim Church in Honduras. He reminds us that to be a Franciscan is to have the littleness of a child, to be simple and willing to serve. The Custody of Central America, together with the Bishop of the Diocese of Juticalpa and the parishioners of Gualaco, are preparing the preliminary phase, in the hope of asking the Holy See to begin the process toward canonization.
Friar Juan Alonzo PAGOADA ACOSTA
