Shepherd of Santa Rosa dies following extended illness
By Erick Rommel
Head Staff Writer
Bishop Julio Bethancourt, bishop of the Diocese of Santa Rosa de Lima, Guatemala, died July 4 in Guatemala City. He had spent several months in the hospital as a result of complications from diabetes and kidney failure. He played a key role in the creation of a close relationship between his diocese and the Diocese of Metuchen.
“It was with great sadness that I learned the news of the passing of Bishop Julio Bethancourt,” said Bishop Paul G. Bootkoski. “He was a compassionate shepherd who was concerned about the needs of those entrusted to his care, most especially the poor in his diocese.”
Leader through example
The relationship between the Metuchen and Santa Rosa dioceses is part of Catholic Relief Services’ Global Solidarity Partnership, which identifies specific ways faith communities can collaborate to make a positive difference.
Bishop Bootkoski led the first delegation to Guatemala in January 2004 to learn about the area and its people. Later that year, Bishop Bethancourt visited Metuchen to meet Bishop Bootkoski. During that visit, he also received treatment for his illnesses at Saint Peter’s University Hospital.
“In his illness, Bishop Bethancourt was an emissary for the partnership,” said Father Joseph J. Kerrigan, director, CRS Metuchen. “He made Santa Rosa real to the doctors and top executives at the hospital.”
Following Bishop Bethancourt’s visit, Saint Peter’s created an International Relief Team and investigated how it could make a difference in the Santa Rosa region. It learned that most remote communities lacked appropriate medical facilities and personnel and focused its efforts to improve access to care. Doctors and staff from Saint Peter’s joined a diocesan delegation to Guatemala in March 2006 and visited each of the five medical clinics funded by the hospital.
The most recent diocesan delegation visited June 26 to July 5. It met with Bishop Bethancourt June 27, one week before he died. “When he heard they were coming, [Bishop Bethancourt] insisted on getting out of the bed and meeting them in a wheelchair,” said Ernest C. Revoir, Catholic Charities division director for behavioral health and youth services for Catholic Charities, Metuchen.
Michael J. Wojcik, director, diocesan Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, met with Bethancourt. “He was obviously a man of deep faith and vision to bring together both of our dioceses in a partnership of relationships and learning from one another,” Wojcik said.
Life of service
Bishop Bethancourt was born April 9, 1937 in Quezaltenango, Guatemala. Jesuit Bishop Luis Formosa ordained him a priest Dec. 29, 1963. He was appointed auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Guatemala and titular bishop of Pomaria Dec. 3, 1982.
In April 1984, Pope John Paul II appointed Bishop Bethancourt the bishop of San Marcos, Guatemala. Four years later, in 1988, he became bishop of the Diocese of Huehuetenango, Guatemala. In 1996, when Pope John Paul II erected the Diocese of Santa Rosa, he selected Bishop Bethancourt to be its first shepherd.
Since that time, Bishop Bethancourt worked tirelessly to improve the lives of people in Santa Rosa. In his meetings with representatives from Metuchen, his community’s needs were always his top concern. “He was adamant about the priorities we kept at the forefront,” Revoir said. “It was always about what the people there needed. He was a champion for them.”
“I think this partnership is a legacy,” Revoir added. “New projects that come along will have his stamp on them forever.”
*The attached/referenced article was originally published in The Catholic Spirit, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Metuchen, and is protected under U.S. and international copyright law