SW News: Attacks on Church workers in Mexico are on the rise and in the recent incident, two catechists were killed on June 15. Gertrudis Cruz de Jess and Gliserina Cruz Merino were killed in the state of Oaxaca by armed men as they were going to church to take part in a Eucharistic celebration.

Members of the Triqui indigenous community, both catechists were gunned down while traveling in a car to take part in the liturgical celebration of the silver jubilee of the sacerdotal ordination of Bishop Miguel Castro of the diocese of Huajuapan de León. They were on their way to the parish to gather the young people to take part in the celebration at the cathedral of Huajuapan de León.

According to Father Francisco, the Mexican diocese's director of communication, Gertrudis died on the way to the hospital, and Gliserina died on Friday at the medical facility. The young ladies, according to the priest, were "brave and generous" in their pastoral work and "constantly supported" their parish priest, Fr Lázaro Martnez Bravo.

The violent attack occurred just three days before the Church in Mexico united to pray for peace throughout the country. The diocese of Huajuapan de León issued a statement on social media wishing "peace and comfort to their families, eternal rest, and reward for their service to the Church."

Meanwhile, the Oaxacan State Attorney General's Office (FGEO) said that an inquiry into the incident's probable reasons has been initiated.