havant pastoral area romero pilgrimage 100 years after the ... · pdf filefrom havant parish,...

Havant Pastoral Area Romero Pilgrimage 100 years after the birth of Archbishop Oscar Romero

We gather as pilgrims to travel together

“let us not forget: we are a pilgrim church, subject to misunderstanding, to persecution, but a church that walks serene, because it bears the force of

love.” ― Oscar A. Romero, The Violence of Love

From Havant Parish, we will be walking this pilgrimage to St John’s Cathedral

on the 9th September and you are welcome to join us. If you cannot join us but would but would like to do something to mark this

centenary please feel free to use these prayers reading and actions and adapt as you wish [email protected]

By reflecting on The Archbishop’s story, we will focus on our own faith journeys as people of the Beatitudes

Gospel of Matthew 5:3-10

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.

Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the

kingdom of heaven."

Reflection are from

Prayer In memory of Oscar Romero (1917–1980) called A Future Not Our Own

A prayer was composed by Bishop Ken Untener of Saginaw,

Memories are from book Monseñor Romero: Memories in Mosaic

by Maria Lopez Vigil

Information from Romero Trust http://www.romerotrust.org.uk/

Actions to support

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/132793.Oscar_A_Romero

https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/219744

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.romerotrust.org.uk/

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Memory of Carmon Chacon

“The bishop is coming!”

“Mama” said Oscar, who was still a little boy “Will you

buy me a new shirt and a pair of pants so I can see

him?”

Nina Guadalupe de Jesus got him the new clothes

ready so her son would be neat and presentable and

the boy went about – here there and everywhere-

accompanying the bishop on all his rounds. The bishop

was quite impressed with him.

“The bishop is leaving”

Oscar come over here! The bishop called to him in

front of everybody in the town

Yes Monseñor?

Tell me boy, what do you want to be when you grow

up?

Well I…I would like to be a priest!”

The bishop raised his hefty finger and pointed it

straight at Oscar’s forehead.

You, my boy, are going to be a bishop!”

After marking Oscar’s destiny, he went back to his mansion in San Miguel and Ciudad Barrios went back

to being a sleepy little campesinos town.

Fifty years later, Monseñor Romero put his hand to the

place on his forehead and told me” I can still feel the

touch of his finger right here.

For Reflection

A FUTURE NOT OUR OWN

It helps, now and then, to step back and take a long

view.

The kingdom is not only beyond our efforts,

it is even beyond our vision.

1917 Oscar Arnulfo Romero

was born into a family of

ten on 15th August in

Ciudad Barrios, El Salvador.

His father was in charge of

the local telegraph office.

Sometimes the young

Romero helped his father to

deliver telegrams. Oscar

learned to be a carpenter,

making tables, chairs and

doors

Let us pray

For vocations to the

priesthood and religious life

that people from our own

community’s will respond to

the call to be shepherds and

leaders as we walk through

life’s journey.

Blessed Oscar Romero

pray with us

We pray for the success of

CAFOD’s Power to be

campaign supporting

renewable energy to tackle

poverty and give children

the chance of education to

fulfil their God ‘given

potential.


Pray with Us.

Action for the Future

Support CAFOD’s campaign

asking the world bank to

provide small local solutions

of solar power to help young

people with the power to

see to study

Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Memory of Antonia Novoa on death of Romero’s

mother

She died and was buried here in San Miguel. (Father

Romero’s parish) And since Father Romero had a

relationship with the people of San Miguel’s upper

class- from the Garcia Prieto’s on down- people from

the aristocracy went to the funeral. Coffee plantation

owners showed up, even a famous pianist from there.

But since he also had friends like us who loved him,

we went too. Nuns went, children went. His whole

family also arrived in San Miguel on that sad occasion,

we saw what they were like -people of humble

bearing. On the way to the cemetery after the funeral

Mass, who do you think he walked with? He didn’t go

with the upper crust, he walked alongside the ones in

simple dress, in country clothes-us! “I was born with

them. I’ll go with them” he said quietly.

And that was what the whole way was like – him

alongside the casket and alongside the crowds of

people.

For reflection

We accomplish in our lifetime

only a tiny fraction

of the magnificent enterprise

Nothing is complete which is another way of

saying the kingdom is beyond us

.

1930 When he was 14 years

old, Oscar wanted to be a

priest so he went to study

at junior seminary. When

his mother was ill and they

needed money for medicine,

Oscar left the seminary for

three months and worked in

the gold mine in Potosí. He

earned about 4p a day. He

continued his studies in

Rome and was there at the

start of the war.

Let us pray

for the fortitude to offer up

our lamentations and

mourning and the strength

to walk with each other in

times of grief


pray with us

We pray for the many

people across the world

mourning members of their

family because of war and

famine that they may find

comfort in the future

beyond our vision.


Pray with Us.


Light a candle at the

Cathedral and give a

donation to charity in

remembrance

Romero reminds us that

there is no death without

resurrection

Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth

Roglelio Pedraz recalls

“But I am leaving the country tomorrow! I’ve got my

ticket already”

“Don’t be a stubborn man you can go after the meeting”

I went solely out of a sense of obligation. I didn’t know

Romero from Adam. Cesar introduced me, and told him

that I had experience, that I knew a lot about radio…

Monseñor looked at me and said exactly these words:

“I’m asking you to help me save the radio station. And

if I have to I’ll get on my knees.”

No one had ever gotten on their knees to ask me

anything. Much less a bishop! But the tone of his voice

made me feel like he might just kneel down right there

in front of me! It really threw me a loop. It moved me.

“Bring on the radio, Monseñor” I told him

I didn’t even remember to cancel my plane reservation

For Reflection

No statement says all that could be said. No prayer fully expresses our faith.

No confession brings perfection.

No pastoral visit brings wholeness. No program accomplishes the Church's mission.

No set of goals and objectives includes everything.

This story leaps forward

to when Romero was

Archbishop. When the

country was full of

censorship and struggle

the radio became one of

the most powerful

instruments of

communication. Every

Sunday Romero

preached and named all

the dead and the

missing. These sermons

were aired on the radio

and people throughout

the country listened.

Let us pray

On our journey to the

kingdom help us

recognise the part we

have as messengers of

God and not let pride

hinder us when we need

help


pray with us

Help us to value and

share all God’s creation

from the smallest insect

to the wonders of the

stars. To tread lightly on

the earth

Blessed Oscar

Romero Pray with Us.

Action for Future

Thinking about the

earth we would like the

next generation to

inherit act to consume

less, reuse and recycle

more

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness sake

for they shall be filled

Resident of El Tornador

For many years, all Aguilares had been organising and

growing in awareness by listening to their parish

priest, Father Rutilio. This is how Father Grande talked

to them

“Some people cross themselves in the name of the

father (money) and the son (coffee) and the spirit

(especially if its cane liquor!) that is not the God who is

the Father of our Brother and Lord, Jesus, who gives

us the good Spirit so that we can all be brothers in

equality, so that we, the faithful followers of Jesus can

work to make His Kingdom Present here among us.

Don’t be like fireworks- all noise and hullabaloo

towards the heavens way up there! We have to fix this

mess here on earth. Here on earth! God isn’t in the

clouds lying in a hammock. He cares about the way

things are going so badly for the poor down here.

I’ve told you many times that we have not come with the sword- or the machete. Our work is not that. Our

violence is in the Word of God. The Word that forces us

to change ourselves so that we can make this world a

better place, the Word that charges us with the

enormous task of changing the world.”

'If they have killed him for doing what he did, then I too have to walk

the same path.' "

For Reflection

That is what we are about. We plant a seed that will one-day grow.

We water seeds already planted, knowing that they hold future promise.

We lay foundations that will need further development.

We provide yeast that produces effects

far beyond our capabilities.

Father Grande was

murdered in 1977 by the

Salvadoran military —

Grande’s murder also

deeply affected his friend

the new Archbishop. This

was his first crisis. Thought

to be a safe conservative

and timid man he started to

see a different path. His first

act as Archbishop was to

organise a one Mass Sunday

for the whole country where

he preached “Let us

enlighten our doctrine, our

actions as good Samaritans

…”

Let us pray for a

change of Hearts and

Minds

Help us live the Word, to

be open to changing

ourselves to make the

world a better place


pray with us

We pray for all Christians

suffering persecution for

their faith. That they are

comforted by their beliefs

and empowered by the

gifts of the Holy spirit.


Pray with Us.


Write a letter of

support to a

persecuted

Christian. These

letters offer great

hope in moments of doubt

Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy

The Funeral of Father Neto Astor Ruiz

He was advised not to go as Father Neto had died in

combat accused of being with rebels giving the

government proof of “guerrilla priests”.

He called together eight sad and frightened priests,

called because we were close to Neto. We were birds of

a feather, priests with the same ideas.

Monseñor spoke

“In order to make the decision I need to make, I’m just

asking myself one question right now, just one”

We, who had arrived trembling, were even more

frightened now. What would he ask us? If Neto had or

hadn’t joined the guerrillas? If he carried a weapon or

not? If we…

“What I’m asking myself is this. What must Doña

Mariita, Neto’s mother be thinking now?

Would it matter to her if Neto was carrying a weapon

or not? If he was a guerrilla or not? Would she care?

Neto was her son, and she is his mother, and so Doña

Mariita is there by his side now. The church is also

Neto’s mother and as bishop I am his Father. I should

be by his side as well.

We looked at him. He looked at each of us one by one.

“You have to be at his side too. We’re going to say

goodbye to him with a Mass, like the priest that he is,

and we’re going to bury him in a church in the parish

of Mejicanos. Come! Let’s go get thing ready…

For Reflection

We cannot do everything, and there is a sense

of liberation in realizing this.

This enables us to do something, and to do it

very well

Oscar Romero was by

nature a fastidious and

timid man. He worked

hard and liked things to

be in order. Initially when

he had become

Archbishop the

government were pleased

thinking he would be

easily managed.

However, following the

death of Fr Grande and

through prayer he acted

courageously not as a

revolutionary or

communist by in love and

mercy.

Let us pray

That our actions will be

those of mercy and not

judgement. And that in

times of difficultly and when

we have acted badly we will

see the loving path of the

Lord and receive mercy.


pray with us

We pray for those who have

taken paths to evil and

destruction that through the

example of love and mercy

they may find redemption


Pray with Us.


Consider training to be a

prison hospital or

community visitor volunteer

for local Caritas project

Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.

Truth: Armando Contreras remembers

He didn’t beat around the bush, and he didn’t mince

words. He was always right on the mark with what he

had to say- his advice to journalists

“At the very least you should always say something

from both sides so that the Salvadoran people can be

well informed about what’s going on.”

“I’m asking you to tell the truth” he said another time

“although I understand why you might not at times,

who’s going to serve the truth for free, when lies are

so well paid?”

He would say things like that that would just cut to the

quick and eat at my conscience.

Monseñor? He was the highest source of information

that this country had during those years, and if there’s

any title that fits him perfectly, its “the journalist of the

poor”

For Reflection

It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning,

a step along the way, an opportunity for the

Lord's

grace to enter and do the rest

There was a history of

inequality in El Salvador

very few, perhaps 14

families, owned all the

land leaving millions of

campesinos struggling to

provide food and shelter

for themselves and their

families. Their struggle to

gain some basic rights

was seen as a great

threat to the rich, the

stability of the country

and there was great fear

of communist uprisings.

Romero spoke for peace

but not at the cost of

Gospel truth.

Let us pray

That we will be people of

good conscience and act in

ways that put others needs

equal to our own.


pray with us

We pray that those in power

act for human dignity and to

the benefit of the whole

community. When the task

seems, overwhelming let’s

take a step back and allow

the Lord’s grace to enter.


Pray with Us.

Action for the future

Look out for ways to reach

out to people who are

vulnerable, through

disability ill health or

displacement. Sometimes

the purity of heart of others

is a blessing for us

Blessed are the Peacemakers for they shall be called children of God

Memory of Miguel Tomas Castro-

We decided to pay him an official visit

He was surprised that Protestants would be coming to

see him. Maybe it was the first time. …. Representing

our little church. Emmanuel Baptist church.

We explained to him how much we admired his work ...

When we were about to leave, Heriberto Perez asked if

we could end our gathering with a prayer. Heriberto was

the pastor who had founded the Emmanuel church. He

was the eldest among us and had been brought up in

that virulent anti-Catholicism that you sometimes see.

Heriberto prayed. “I thank the Lord that we have met this

man of God “

Miguel continues to explain that some of the Baptists

were suspicious of this friendship with the “powers of

darkness” …

Don’t call me Monseñor anymore just call me brother.

And I won’t call you “separated brothers” anymore either.

“It’s a deal”

And from that day on he called us “the brothers from

Emmanuel” and we called him brother Romero

For Reflection

We may never see the end results, but that

is the

difference between the master builder and

the worker. We are workers not master

builders, ministers not messiahs.

Romero had many friends

among wealth families but

once he began to speak out

for against corruption and

injustice then turned against

him. Publishing newspaper

condemnations and

ridiculing him publicly.

Romero also spoke out

when protestors got violent.

But he listened to all sides

and was guided by pray

always before acting.

Let us pray

Peace comes through

right judgment help us to

be vocal peacemakers

standing up against

bullying and repression

for fairness and

opportunity for

everyone’s growth.


pray with us

We pray for the work of

Christian unity and the

unity of all humankind.

For advocate, mediators,

community builders and

those working towards

reconciliation

Blessed Oscar Romero Pray

with Us.


Think of ways we can act

together as Christians to

bring people together in

friendship, particularly

excluded people.

Blessed are those persecuted for doing right for the kingdom of

God is there’s Fabio Argueta remembers

I went to see Monseñor Romero after having been

arrested and tortured. The crime they’re accusing me

of I told Monseñor is that of preaching the Gospel.

Then I told him that ever since I’d participated in the

courses at El Castiano Centre a few years earlier. I’d

come to believe what we’d been taught there: that the

injustices we suffer as poor people were an offense to

God, a sin that had to be done away with.

“From that idea alone, we received strength,

Monseñor. And you know the saying ‘if the horse

already flies, it doesn’t need spurs’. What’s happening

now is that they’re trying to rein us in by torturing us.

“People who torture their fellow human beings are

agents of the devil”

Monseñor was both sad and serious as he told this to

me. And from there, he started to tell me the history of

the Church, chapter by chapter. He spoke to me about

this path called the “option for the poor” and how

choosing this path had brought us so much

persecution. I remember very well a sentence he kept

repeating “Putting ourselves on the side of the poor is

going to mean a lot of bloodshed for us. All this blood

is a sign of the times…”

How long will it last Monseñor…?

“We don’t know. We have to look up to the heavens

and know how to read the signs. Right now, we have

this; in El Salvador the sky has turned red. We don’t

know how long it will last…”

Final word from Romero

“Each one of you has to be God’s microphone. Each

one of you has to be a messenger, a prophet. The church

will always exist as long as there is someone who has been

baptized…Where is your baptism? You are baptized in your

professions, in the fields of workers, in the market.

Wherever there is someone who has been baptized, that is

where the church is. There is a prophet there. Let us not

hide the talent that God gave us on the day of our baptism

and let us truly live the beauty and responsibility of being a

prophetic people.”

We are prophets of a future not our own.

It was known in his last

days that Romero’s life was

in danger but he said he

had to continue to preach

the Gospel. He wrote to

President Carter asking him

to stop sending arms and he

asked the El Salvadoran

army to stop killing the el

Salvadoran people their own

brothers and sisters. He was

killed while saying Mass in

1980. Ten years of civil war

followed.

Let us pray

That through this day of

prayer we will be renewed

in our understanding of the

Gospel message and do

right as God’s microphones


pray with us

We pray for all those that

suffer and are oppressed

unable to find their daily

bread may they be provided

for and Christ’s peace rest

upon them.


Pray with Us.

Our Father ...


Complete an action cards

how do you think we as

individuals and as a

community can become

people of the beatitudes.

What are you called too?

How will you follow the path

of “the option for the poor?”

havant pastoral area romero pilgrimage 100 years after the ... · pdf filefrom havant parish,...

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