Born in Acebes del Páramo, León, Spain, on February 23, 1943, he carried out his Salesian novitiate in Astudillo, made his first profession on 16 August 1961, and his perpetual profession on 2 July 1967, being ordained a priest on July 2, 1972. He then studied philosophy in Medina del Campo (Valladolid) and theology in Verona (Italy). He could also boast a Licentiate in Pedagogy and Accounting Sciences.
He was Director of the Salesian house in Alto Araguaia (1979-2002); Director (1985-1988 and 1998-2000). He was subsequently Economer (1999-2001) of the Santa Teresa di Corumbà house, Economer at the Don Bosco Center in Campo Grande (1992-1998), and Economer at Coxipó da Ponte (2002-2005). For the Province of Brazil-Campo Grande he was also the Provincial Economer (2000-2002).
He was appointed bishop of the diocese of Corumbá on 7 December 2004, and was ordained by his predecessor, Bishop Milton Antonio dos Santos, on 30 January 2005. After having been titular bishop of the diocese for 13 years, he resigned in 2018 on turning 75 years of age.
The Brazilian Episcopal Conference yesterday issued a note of condolence, signed by the Presidency, in which it expresses “solidarity with the family, with the Salesian Society of Don Bosco, with friends and with the people of God present in the diocese of Corumbá”. Also, the communiqué thanks God for “the more than four decades dedicated as Salesian missionary to the Church in Brazil and to the educational charism, especially in the diocese of Corumbá”, and commemorate Msgr. Martínez for the "serenity and profound experience of living the faith, signs of the ministry of this pastor".
Source: Religion Digital
