ACI Prensa Staff, Sep 2, 2025 / 14:53 pm

The bishop of Paterson, New Jersey, Kevin Sweeney, mourned the suicide of Father Rafael Ciro, a Colombian-born priest who served as pastor of St. Stephen's Church. The prelate said he is praying for him and asked for prayers, entrusting him to God's mercy.

In a statement Sweeney noted that the priest, born in 1979 in Colombia, had been "faithful, joyful, and dedicated" since his ordination on May 25, 2013.

The deceased priest served at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist Cathedral in Paterson, St. Mary's in Passaic, St. Nicholas in Passaic, and Sacred Heart and Holy Rosary in Dover before being appointed pastor of St. Stephen's in Paterson.

Speaking to Univision , María Rodríguez said that Ciro "was a very good priest. He was very well-lov

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