The city of La Unión gathered on the morning of Monday 5 February to pay homage to Father Pablo Fontaine sscc, whose life of service and devotion left an indelible mark since he arrived in this community in 1996, where he remained for 23 years and to which he has returned, fulfilling his wish to be buried here.
The Eucharist was presided over by the bishop of the Diocese of Valdivia, Santiago Silva together with the bishop of Chillán, Sergio Pérez de Arce sscc. Also attending were Sandro Mancilla sscc, the Provincial Superior of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts and Magín Vega sscc, the parish priest of San José de La Unión. These were joined by other sscc religious, representatives of the clergy of the diocese of Valdivia, community authorities, relatives and pastoral agents of this ecclesial community.
Father Pablo died on Saturday 3 February at the age of 98 at the provincial house of the congregation in Santiago, but he always expressed his wish to be buried close to his beloved community of La Unión, and following that wish he was transferred to this city, of which he is an illustrious son.
The residents of La Unión, in the south of Chile, paid a warm tribute to a life dedicated to faith and service to others. Among them was the mayor, Andrés Reinoso, who highlighted Father Pablo's predilection for the most humble people: "I want to ask you, not as mayor, but as a neighbour, that we continue to honour Father Pablo by showing more solidarity with people in need, offering a hand to someone who is down".
Video of the funeral: https://acortar.link/XLpIA4
02/07/2024