Miguel Fornés Perelló was born in Muro, Mallorca, on October 7, 1939 to his late parents Miguel and Ana. He was baptized in the parish of Muro on October 9, 1939 and confirmed on May 8, 1940.
He received the Franciscan habit on August 7, 1960 at the Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Cura and, after the novitiate, made temporary profession on August 13, 1961, and solemn profession on April 13, 1966. On December 22, 1965 he received the minor orders and on March 11, 1967 was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Rafael Álvarez Lara.
In the Seminario Seráfico de la Porciúncula, he studied the humanities from the years 1953 to 1960, philosophy from 1961 to 1963, and theology from 1964 to 1967. In the year 1967, and in the same seminary, he was designated prefect of the minor seminary section and in 1970 he was assigned to our missions in Peru, where he served in several locations of the Huamachuco Prelature.
In 1977, he returned to Spain and was sent to the convent of San Buenaventura de Llucmajor as local minister. In 1985, he was assigned to the parish of San Diego, Madrid, as coadjutor vicar and from 1987 to 1993 to the parish of Santo Niño de Cebú, Madrid, also as coadjutor vicar.
In 1993, he was assigned to the Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Cura as vicar and econome of the novitiate’s fraternity. And in 1997, he was assigned to the Convent of San Antonio de Padua de Artá, Mallorca, as the econome of the fraternity and as vice-director of novices and joint pastor of the Parish of Artá, until the year 2009, in which he was assigned to the fraternity of Nuestra Señora de los Dolores in Quintanar de la Orden, Toledo, as vicar and administrator of the fraternity. In 2013, he returned to the convent of Artá as vicar of the fraternity and parochial vicar. During the years that he resided in Artá he was also vicar of the parish of Colonia de Sant Pere. For almost a year now, he held the office of pastor “in solidum” for the Parish of Artá, jointly with Fr. Pere José Vallespir and Fr. Tomeu Pastor.
As one can see, Fr. Miguel had a very busy life, just by looking at his long list of assignments and places where he lived: Mallorca, Quintanar, Madrid, Peru, etc. The residents of these places benefited from his presence.
If one had to describe Fr. Miguel, I believe that these words would suffice: simple and hardworking. Naturally, he had other virtues, but I believe that these are the most significant.
One could always joke with him. He never acted to show off and was always seen diligently accomplishing the jobs entrusted to him by obedience.
The anecdotes of Fr. Miguel and Fr. Juan Server, to whom Fr. Miguel helped in the kitchen of the fraternity, are famous. Fr. Miguel called him his “kitchen helper” and asked him many convoluted questions that, naturally, Fr. Miguel did not know how to answer, but it brought laughter to the two brothers and all present.
There is no doubt that many people could approach Fr. Miguel with confidence and find peace and help in their needs.
He was unexpectedly visited by Sister Death during the night of January 18, 2021, after a failed surgery to remove a brain tumor.
The Funeral Mass for his eternal rest was held at the Convent of San Antonio de Padua, in Artá, on the 20th and was presided over by the bishop of Mallorca, Sebastián Taltavull. Concelebrating were Msgr. Sebastián Ramis and the Minister Provincial, Fr. Jaume Puigserver. Also concelebrating were numerous religious of the Order and other priests of the secular clergy, with whom Fr. Miguel collaborated in the apostolate. A large public were present despite the pandemic of COVID-19.