10 Facts About Nelson Lemus

Nelson Rutilio Lemus Chavez was a Salvadoran Catholic who was active during the 20th century unrest in the country.

Nelson Lemus was an active participant in his local parish and was often involved in helping others to read the Bible.

Nelson Lemus was the one that would ring the church bells for Mass and helped his local parish priest.

Nelson Lemus was beatified in 2022 in San Salvador alongside his two companions and the slain priest Cosma Spessotto.

Nelson Rutilio Lemus Chavez was born on 10 November 1960 in El Paisnal in the San Salvador department as the eldest of eight sisters and one brother; his mother was a housewife and his father worked at the local post office.

Nelson Lemus's parents had been threatened several times due to their participation in the Delegates of the Word movement in their local parish.

Nelson Lemus, meanwhile, secured a position to ring the church bells for Mass and he often helped his parish priest in his duties around the church.

Nelson Lemus contributed to several pastoral activities at the parish and would help others to read the Bible.

Nelson Lemus was picked up on 12 March 1977 after he delivered firewood to his godmother and accompanied the Jesuit priest Rutilio Grande Garcia and his companion Manuel Solorzano to attend evening Mass and then to recite the novena to Saint Joseph.

Nelson Lemus himself has five bullet holes in his head while Grande had been shot eighteen times since he was the main target.