Miner Manuel Sanchez remembered Sept. 15

Intermountain Catholic

+ Enlarge

Father Donald E. Hope, pastor of Notre Dame de Lourdes Parish, Price, oversees the release of dozens of blue and white balloons symbolizing the prayer of the family and friends of Manuel Sanchez rising to heaven at the conclusion of the funeral Mass for Sanchez Sept. 15. The bi-lingual funeral Mass drew more than 200 people to the church, including members of Notre Dame de Lourdes Parish and Mission San Rafael communities, fellow miners, rescue workers, and family members of the three rescue miners who died in a second collapse of the Crandall Canyon Mine. During the Mass, Fr. Hope encouraged those present to remember Sanchez as a man who was devoted to his family and his fellow miners. At the close of the Mass, Fr. Hope presented members of the family with crucifixes to remind them of Sanchez and their faith, "which will see you through this most difficult time." A funeral Mass for miners Juan Carlos Payan and Luís Hernandez was celebrated Sept. 6 at Mission San Rafael followed by a committal service Sept. 10.