New Saints

Sunday 14th October 2018

Today in Rome we see the canonisation of seven new saints including Saint Oscar Romero and Saint Pope Paul VI.

As Pope, Paul VI over saw much of the Second Vatican Council, which had been opened by Pope St. John XXIII, and in 1969 promulgated a new Roman Missal. He died in 1978, and was beatified by Pope Francis on 19th October 2014.

Saint Oscar Romero was assassinated while celebrating Mass in El Salvador. As an Archbishop Oscar Romero, was a defender of the poor and campaigner for peace. CAFOD, who worked with Romero, will join millions of Catholics today celebrate his canonisation in Rome. They will be joined by Bishop John, in his role as chair of CAFOD

Clare Dixon, CAFOD’s Head of Region for Latin America, who supported Romero’s church in the 1970s, said: “Oscar Romero is revered in his native El Salvador. He ranks alongside the likes of Martin Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi as one of the most remarkable figures of the twentieth century.

“His canonisation will give Romero the wider recognition he so richly deserves – he denounced the violence which was tearing his country apart, he spoke out against oppression, and stood against injustice alongside people living in poverty.”

During his time as Archbishop, Romero became known as the “voice of the voiceless”, after his sermons – which were broadcast across the country via his radio station – he spoke out against the military regime. In his last sermon, Romero called on the National Guard and the police to end the violence, saying:

“Brothers, you are killing your fellow countrymen. No soldier has to obey an order to kill. In the name of God and in the name of the suffering people I implore you, I beg, I order you, stop the repression!”

A day later, on 24 March 1980, Oscar Romero was assassinated while celebrating Mass.

In May 2015, Romero was declared “Blessed” by Pope Francis, in recognition of his death as a martyr, faithful to the Church’s teaching. His beatification ceremony in El Salvador drew unprecedented crowds.

Please join us to celebrate the canonisation of Oscar Romero on Tuesday 23rd October with Mass at 12.10pm, at Salford Cathedral with Bishop John.

Refreshments after Mass followed by short talk at 1.30pm on Romero’s Legacy with Steve Atherton, Liverpool Archdiocese Justice and Peace Worker

Please book your place by phone or email with CAFOD/Caritas Salford
Tel: 0161 705 0605 | Email: annwilson@cafod.org.uk
Tel: 0161 817 2263 | Email: info@caritassalford.org.uk

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