Forcallanos with global impact.

     Despite its modest size, Forcall has been a cradle of ambitious entrepreneurs and citizens with global impact. In 1609  Blay Berga founded the Dominican Convent in Forcall, designed to house a seminary school of Grammar, Philosophy and Theology.

     In 1611, Father Baltasar Fort became Provincial Vicar of the Dominican Order in Japan and the Philippines and founded the University of Santo Tomas in Manila.

     In 1943, Father Javier Obón Molinos was born in Forcall to a family of small merchants. In 1993, following his vocation as a missionary priest, he travelled to Ayacucho, Peru. Until his death in 2016, he served the less fortunate in sixty rural communities neighboring his parish of Santa Rosa de Ayacucho that had been devastated by rural terrorism

     Promoted the creation of two dining rooms for 600 children and established two vocational training schools for adults.

Father Javier came from ancestors hardened by work. His ancestors are found in the old farmhouses of the Maestrazgo de Castellón and Teruel: the Mas de Farinetes in Morella; the Mas dels Frares or de Liborio in Forcall, where the remains of an ancient Roman city are found; and the Mas del Huergo in Las Planas de Castellote. Country people and farmers, his parents ran a shop in their hometown, Forcall. With a deep appreciation of work and family, 

     Javier was the fourth of seven brothers. Like his brother Joaquin, he embraced the priestly ministry. His sense of vocation and work took him to the extreme to announce the Gospel to men. As the Bishop of the diocese of Tortosa, Monsignor Enrique Benavent, said with emotional words during the funeral Mass in Forcall: “He was a worker of the Gospel”.

     Tireless, he burned his life and health in Ayacucho, where he wanted to stay among people who loved him well. His remains rest there and his soul will rejoice among the elect of the Lord. He was made of the same wood as the saints. He always trusted in God to carry out his undertakings and, like a good sower, he spread his seed in the fields to which God sent him. In a hard soil, which he cultivated with love and effort so that it would bear fruit. Simple people, with a primary religiosity and, in many cases, far from the Gospel. He encouraged them to form Christian families and tried to cover their most basic needs of food, work, health and education. But, above all, he cultivated religious values. He encouraged the youth to follow Christ: in the Seminary; in the parishes; at work. And it bore good fruit. 

     With great naturalness and an overwhelming personality, he made difficult things look easy. He undertook just causes that seemed disproportionate to his strength and let God do the rest. He was not discouraged and always found people who followed him in his endeavor while he dedicated his intelligence to obtaining the necessary resources.

     He left an indelible mark of kindness in the places he visited. He cared little for himself and much for others. He devoted his wealth and work to covering the needs of others, and Divine Providence did not abandon him. He was always dedicated to the parishes he ran; to religious communities; to the seminary; to youth; to families and to people of all conditions. In the Ayacucho Mission, he promoted: canteens for children, which also provided what was necessary for their schooling; vocational training centers; the use of tools for work; primary health care. Unconditional people helped him to raise, build and maintain his projects. Letters to Spain, to the institutions, always pulling strings here and there.

     He easily fit into the way of life of the Ayacucho people and dedicated himself entirely to the evangelical mission. We asked him on one occasion if he had visited Machu Picchu, one of the wonders of the world that was within easy reach, and he confessed to us that in the many years he had been in Peru, he had not had time to go sightseeing, and that he watched it on television. Those of us who knew him closely were dazzled by his personality, his clarity of ideas, his kind and affable nature and his vigorous defense of just causes.

     He has left us an indelible mark. God will surely have rewarded him for being a tireless servant.

     A summary of his life and work can be found here.