Brazil: Salesian missionary missing in Amazonia after storm

Source: Fides

On Monday 3 September Salesian missionary Norberto Hohenscherer disappeared while he was traveling alone on his canoe, down the river Uaupes, in the Brazilian Amazon. The diocese of São Gabriel da Cachoeira report that the missionary was heading towards his parish of San Miguel, which is based in Lauaete, on the border between Brazil and Colombia. The incident occurred in the middle of a heavy storm in the region.

Born in Austria on October 6, 1938, Fr Norberto arrived in Brazil in 1966 and has since worked in almost all the parishes of the diocese of São Gabriel da Cachoeira. The priest continues to visit the more distant communities in a systematic way, despite his age. This is not the first time Fr Norberto has gone missing in this remote area.

On Monday, a fisherman had found objects and Fr Norberto's boat. A search was begun immediately, with several boats. Fr Antonio Carlos Alves, superior of the Salesians of the region is taking part.