The calendar told us that the beatification of El Salvador's Oscar Romero was coming up on the 23rd of May. (Beatification is a major step towards canonization or sainthood in the Catholic Church.)
Romero, you recall, was the martyred archbishop of San Salvador. In 1980, he was gunned down at the altar by an assassin connected with El Salvador's Arena party which was supported by the Reagan administration. Because Romero is considered the patron saint of liberation theology (which the pope saw as too influenced by Marxism), John Paul refused to even call the archbishop a martyr. Instead, he referred to him merely as "a zealous pastor."
Pope Francis has changed all of that. Romero, he says, was not only a martyr, but has advanced him on the way to official recognition as a saint of the entire Roman Catholic Church.
Well, our little discussion group thought: Why not have our parish celebrate Romero's beatification?
"Great idea" we all agreed. "We could hire a Mariachi band, invite the Hispanic community and folks from Berea College's Union Church" (a Church of Christ with whom people from St. Clare's traveled to El Salvador on more than one occasion). "And then we could follow it all with a big fiesta."
Someone else added, "And why not invite the new bishop?"
"Wouldn't hurt to ask," was the consensus -- although we thought his acceptance would be unlikely, since by the end of May, he'd barely have been installed as bishop.
Well, guess what? He agreed to come. That sends a strong signal about his priorities.
So did his letter written immediately after receiving our invitation:
"Thank you for your kind words of welcome and the excellent suggestion of celebrating the beatification of Archbishop Romero. I am so happy to know that St Clare's and Union Church are in a relationship with the Church in El Salvador. That is exactly what Pope Francis is encouraging us to do!
I just returned last night from visiting our Central American Friars; we celebrated the 35th anniversary of Romero's martyrdom although we were in Costa Rica. This past February 1st, I was able to celebrate mass in the hospital where Romero was killed--all this to say, Oscar Romero is a great inspiration in my life and I am thrilled to know of a community that wishes to celebrate his witness.
I will look for possible dates to celebrate the beatification with your community.
Your message is most welcomed!!"
Bishop-elect Stowe's acceptance of our invitation means that everyone in our parish and from parishes nearby will surely attend an event that might otherwise have been overlooked. Everyone will want to meet the new bishop.
He is sure to have some inspiring words to say about Romero, and hopefully about liberation theology, and U.S. policy in Central America during the 1980s. This will indeed be a teachable moment.
Do you see what I mean about Francis' long reach? This is already far better than I anticipated three years ago.
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