Carmen Hernandez, co-founder of the Neocatechumenal Way, died in Madrid on July 19 at the age of 85.
Together with Kiko Arguello, Hernandez founded the parish-based faith formation programme in the 1960s as a way to deepen people's faith and evangelise those normally excluded by society.
Hernandez, Arguello and Fr Mario Pezzi served as the leaders of the Way on the international level. There are Neocatechumenal communities in 120 countries across the world.
Born in Olvega, Spain, on November 24, 1930, Hernandez received a degree in chemistry and worked for a time at a major food company her family founded and ran. However, she soon left to join the Missionaries of Christ Jesus to do mission work abroad. She also received a degree in theology.
