UK-wide events mark 'Romero 40 years on'

The Great Amen - Peter Bridgeman

NOTE - These events have been cancelled because of the Coronavirus crisis.

Coming up soon, March 24th will mark the 40th anniversary of the martyrdom of St Oscar Romero, shot dead as he celebrated Mass in the chapel of the cancer hospital where he lived. The killing brought to a dramatic close the three years of his glorious ministry as archbishop of San Salvador where, in the midst of violent social conflict, he modelled a preferential option for the poor with phenomenal apostolic courage.

From Britain he received crucial support over those three years from Cardinal Basil Hume who wrote warm letters to him in praise of his pastoral letters and his defence of human rights which the cardinal judged was Catholic Social Teaching being authentically lived out.

Archbishop Romero also got support too from the British Parliament where over 100 MPs and Peers, from all parties, nominated him for the 1979 Nobel Peace Prize and then sent a Parliamentary Delegation to San Salvador to back him up in seeking social justice and peaceful reform.

Not surprisingly, therefore, there will be special Masses, ecumenical services, film showings and other events in different parts of Britain to mark and celebrate this anniversary. They will underline the significance of his ministry and martyrdom for us Christians today - he being no longer tagged simply as St Romero of the Americas, but now St Romero of the whole world.

The Archbishop Romero Trust has invited Edgardo Colon-Emeric, the distinguished Methodist theologian from Duke University in North Carolina, as a guest speaker for events in Swansea, Birmingham, London and Lindisfarne. Edgardo is the author of an acclaimed volume, entitled 'Oscar Romero's Theological Vision - Liberation and Transfiguration of the Poor'.

Saturday March 21st sees a special anniversary Mass celebrated by Archbishop John Wilson in St George's Cathedral, Southwark, which is home to the Diocesan Romero Shrine. During the Mass, four 'Guardians of the Shrine' will be commissioned by the archbishop to work alongside the Rector of the Shrine, Canon Richard Hearn, in promoting the Shrine and in fostering devotion to St Oscar Romero.

Monday March 23rd will be the occasion for an ecumenical Evening Prayer in Liverpool's Metropolitan Cathedral which Archbishop Malcolm McMahon will lead. The Service will include the presentation to the archbishop by the Romero Trust of a first class relic of St Romero for permanent display in the cathedral -alongside the Romero bust already in place there beside St Martin de Porres.

Tuesday March 24th is the anniversary day itself. It is designated as Romero's official Feast Day in the liturgical calendars of both the Catholic and Anglican churches. It is understood that there may be commemorative Masses in a number of parish churches. In particular, Bishop Nicholas Hudson will celebrate an evening Mass in Romero's honour in St Ignatius' Church, Stamford Hill, in north London, which has shown a special devotion to Romero and his soon-to-be-beatified Jesuit friend and martyr, Rutilio Grande.

On Saturday March 28th there is the National Ecumenical Service at St Martin-in-the-Fields Church in London's Trafalgar Square at which Edgardo Colon-Emeric will preach. The Service is entitled 'Microphones of God: Romero 40 Years On'.

Sunday March 29th sees Edgardo preaching in the Radio 4 Sunday Service, broadcast at 08.10am from Wesley's Chapel. Later that morning there will be a special diocesan Mass in Chorley, Lancashire, at which Clare Dixon will speak. And that same evening, Archbishop McMahon will celebrate an anniversary Mass at Liverpool Hope University's chapel during which there will be opportunity to venerate the Liverpool Romero relic.

Tuesday March 31st takes Edgardo to St Mary's University at Twickenham where, in Room D121 at 13.00, he will give a presentation entitled 'Romero 40 Years On: Lessons in Transformation'. All are welcome - as at all the events listed here.

Wednesday April 1st at Newman University, Birmingham, the title of Edgardo's early evening lecture is 'Romero 40 Years On: Joy and Hope for the 2020s'.

Thursday April 2nd in St Joseph's Cathedral, Swansea, Edgardo will give a memorial lecture under the auspices of Churches Together in Wales. The title is 'Romero 40 Years On: An Ecumenical Inspiration'.

Saturday April 4th is potentially the most exciting day of Edgardo's visit with an ecumenical pilgrimage to Lindisfarne, Holy Island - 'Microphones of God: Romero 40 Years On'. Pilgrims must reach Lindisfarne by car or coach by 10.30am (that is because of the tides, which are not to be messed with!). Film, dance, prayer, walk, and Edgardo will preach at a closing liturgy; then the return can begin at 16.00hrs. Groups from North East England and southern Scotland are getting organised to be there!

CAFOD is organising a number of different local events including a film-showing in Bath on March 5th and an event in Sheffield on March 26th. March 14th will see a film showing of 'Righting the Wrong' in Canterbury organised by St Thomas of Canterbury parish.

The Romero Trust says: "Flowers are blooming and St Oscar Romero is gradually being embedded in the ecclesial culture in Britain to inspire us in our prayer and in our striving to embrace an option for the poor here and now - and to reflect in our parishes and personal lives a 'faith that does justice'."