St. Romero continues to this day to influence members of the U.S. church — from the laity to U.S. bishops — seeking to model his example of carrying out the church’s defense of the vulnerable and protection of the human rights of the poor.
Óscar Romero
Posted inDispatches, Faith
Pope Francis recognizes the martyrdom of Jesuit Rutilio Grande and two lay companions in El Salvador
Pope Francis has authorized the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints to promulgate a decree recognizing the martyrdom of Grande and his two lay companions. This suggests that they may soon be beatified—that is, declared “blessed”—most likely in a ceremony in El Salvador later this year.
Posted inDispatches, Faith
One year after his canonization, is St. Óscar Romero still ‘the people’s saint’ in El Salvador?
On Oct. 14, 2018, he was canonized by Pope Francis. Today, Salvadorans ask themselves what the transition from “Msgr. Romero”—what he has been called in El Salvador for decades—to “St. Romero” means for his legacy.
Posted inDispatches, Politics & Society
Can El Salvador face its future without confronting its past?
Salvadorans have high hopes for the new president’s leadership. El Salvador suffers one of the world’s highest murder rates, and a third of its population lives below the poverty line.
Posted inFaith, News
Judge orders arrest of longtime suspect in St. Romero’s 1980 killing
Judge Rigoberto Chicas issued the order Oct. 23 for national and international authorities to apprehend Alvaro Rafael Saravia, who has for years been a suspect in the killing.
Posted inFaith, News
Young Salvadorans embrace St. Romero
Salvadorans widely celebrated St. Romero as the Central American country’s first saint. St. Romero was assassinated while celebrating Mass in March 1980 and remains a reviled figure for some on the political right.
Posted inFaith
Rethinking what it means to be ‘college material’
Our October 17 guest is Cyrus Habib, the lieutenant governor of Washington State. We discuss his recent article Stop saying ‘college isn’t for everyone.’ We also discuss these stories: Pope Francis declares Pope Paul VI, Óscar Romero saints Tomie dePaola’s books help us find the sacred in stories of service and stillness Why can’t women vote at […]
Posted inDispatches, Faith
Should St. Óscar Romero have been canonized back in El Salvador?
El Salvador celebrates the canonization of their patron saint—but should the ceremony have taken place in San Salvador?
Posted inFaith, News
El Salvador celebrates its first saint: Óscar Romero
On Oct. 14 at the Vatican — very early morning in El Salvador — Salvadorans gathered in the square outside the cathedral to watch the ceremony on big screens; others watched in their parishes.
Posted inFaith, News
St. Óscar Romero’s brothers rejoice at his canonization
“I feel proud as a brother and as a family member,” Gaspar Romero said, “but also as part of the (Salvadoran) people because over there, they love him a lot.”