Fr. Juan Alsina and Puente Bulnes

This shrine sits at the northern edge of my parish, along the Rio Mapocho (Mapocho River).  Two lines of railroad tracks pass in a bridge above this spot.  It was here that, on a series of nights in 1973, that military units executed at least 22 people, 14 on one occasion (Oct. 12, 1973) and 8 on another (Sept. 19, 1973).

One of those executed on September 19, 1973 was Fr. Juan Alsina.  Father Alsina worked as the chaplain at the hospital San Juan de Dios as well as participating in the Catholic Worker Action Movement.  When military units arrived at the hospital, he was among those detained.  Some report that he was not among those intended to be detained, but he insisted that he accompany the detained, knowing that they were in grave danger.  Others report that he indeed was on the list of those to be detained.  At the hospital, he was badly beaten. Later that night, his body was found here under this bridge with ten bullet wounds in his back.

Members of the military at the execution of Father Alsina report that his final words were, as inscribed as well in the memorial above, "Por favor, no me pongas la venda y mátame de frente, que no tengo nada que esconder... Mátame de frente, porque quiero verte y quiero darte el perdón." Translated: "Please, do not put on the blindfold, but kill me facing forward, because I have nothing to hide.  Kill me to my face, so that I can see you and forgive you."

Each year a mass is celebrated on the site near the anniversary of his death.