Celebrating 10th Anniversary of Romero Cross

On Thursday 28th September, more than 250 people gathered in St George's Cathedral Southwark for an ecumenical service of Sung Evening Prayer. The event was to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Romero Cross being installed in the Cathedral, which is now the national shrine to St Oscar Romero. The orientation of the Romero Cross has recently been altered - it now faces the central aisle and is more visible to the congregation and passing visitors.

It was a glorious and colourful event - psalms and hymns were sung by the resident choir - the last hymn being composed and written in honour of St Oscar Romero. The final words being "we'll devote ourselves to justice and the common good of all".

The Homily was given by the Very Rev Dr John Hall, former Dean of Westminster Abbey. He reminded the congregation that a statue of St Oscar Romero, along with other 20 century saints, adorns the west entrance of Westminster Abbey, an important place of Anglican worship.

He gave a chronological narrative of the life of Oscar Romero ending with an account of his funeral which was attended by 250,000 people in San Salvador. Even at his funeral the military attacked the mourners, resulting in 40 deaths and many injured. Oscar Romero was the first "native" (sic) saint of Central America .

The final words of the evening were given by Most Rev John Wilson who reminded us that the poor are not just over there! But here in Southwark - the Cathedral's food bank is a reminder of this fact. The Archbishop ended with Romero's words -

"The Church is all of you".

The service was attended by clergy from the Anglican Cathedral in Southwark. The coming together of the two Southwark Cathedrals! Also in attendance were the Catholic Ukrainian Bishop - Rt Rev Kenneth Nowakowski and the Archbishop assured him that our prayers are with him and his people at this difficult time.

Historical Postscript.

While sitting in the Cathedral listening to beautiful church music, I was reminded that the high altar was the site where in 1780 the Gordon Riots, (the anti-Catholic riots), where mobilised by General Gordon. At the time, banners bearing the slogan 'No Popery here' would have been enthusiastically waved. 243 years later an ecumenical service celebrating the life of St Oscar Romero was taking place at the very same spot. I think St Oscar Romero would have enjoyed that!