The Beatification of Archbishop Romero

Priest to attend Archbishop Romero’s beatification in El Salvador

CLIFTON  For El Salvadorians the beatification of Archbishop Oscar Romero has been a long time coming. Gunned down while celebrating Mass on March 24, 1980, he is considered a martyr for the faith to his fellow countrymen and the world. Pope Francis announced earlier this year that his beatification would be held in San Salvador, the capital of the Central American country, on Satur­day, May 23. It will be celebrated in Plaza Salvador del Mundo under the Monumento al Divino Salvador del Mundo. Car­dinal Angelo Amato, prefect of the congregation for the causes of saints, will preside at the beatification with 200 bishops, 1,200 priests and six cardinals are expected to attend.

Among the priests attending will be Father Raimundo Rivera, the diocesan director of migrant ministry. He is a proud El Salva­dorian who has waited for this moment and honor for Archbishop Romero. “It’s very special for the El Salvadorian people. We have been looking for this to happen for more than two decades,” said Father Rivera.

For Father Rivera, witnessing the beatification hits close to his heart. When he was 14, he remembers attending a Mass celebrated by Archbishop Romero. “He is my inspiration for becoming a priest. He worked for the poor and he protected the people from the radicalism happening in El Salvador at the time. Priests should look to him as a great example for pastoral ministry,” said Father Rivera.

Archbishop Romero was well known for fighting against human rights violations facing the poor in El Salvador during the country’s civil war. Rivera tragically understands firsthand the strife faced by many El Salvadorians during the war. His mother, father, three brothers, sister and brother-in-law were murdered on the same day by guerilla extremists. “I survived together with one of my sisters. I was in school studying in another place and my sister worked in the capital,” said Father Rivera.

Because so many El Salvadorians were killed during that time of violence from the outbreak of the civil war to military occupations, Archbishop Romero’s beatification honors all those innocent lives lost. Father Rivera will especially think about his mother. “She gave me a strong faith, which helped me discover my vocation. She spent all her time at church. She helped me learn the rosary,” he said.

Also excited about Archbishop Ro­mero’s beatification is Morena Moreta, a parishioner of St. Anthony Parish in Pas­saic, who was born in El Salvador and came to this country with her sisters when she was 14 to study in the United States.

“This is a proud moment for El Sal­vador. I consider him (Archbishop Ro­mero) an apostle because like Jesus’ apostles, while they experienced persecution, they continued to spread the faith.”

Moreta recalls the archbishop being a defender of the poor and remembers when she was young, her mother felt scared to let her and her siblings go outside. “Some of my classmates were killed during the civil war. It was a scary time,” she said.

Today, the country has put away its violent past. Moreta’s mother still lives there, and she will likely travel to the capital to witness the beatification. “My mother loves him (Archbishop Romero) and what he did for our country. I remember whenever he was at our home church my mom would go to that Mass.”

As a layperson, Moreta believes, those who aren’t priests or religious could also follow in his footsteps. “He continued what Jesus Christ did for us. He loved the poor and taught people to be brave in the toughest times.”

Following the beatification, Arch­bish­op Romero will be hold the title, Bles­sed, the last step before canonization.