37 Years Later: Remembering Blessed Oscar Romero

BY CHRIS KERR | March 24, 2017

March 24, 2017, marks 37 years since Blessed Archbishop Oscar Romero was murdered while celebrating mass at the Hospital of Divine Providence in San Salvador, El Salvador. Romero served as a beacon of hope for Salvadorans marginalized by a repressive government during his short tenure as archbishop and continues to inspire the people of El Salvador as well as throughout the world.

In honor of this anniversary, ISN spoke with two staff members at Christians for Peace in El Salvador (CRISPAZ), Francisco Mena, executive director, and Elba Moreira, delegation coordinator. Having lived in El Salvador during Romero’s time and through their roles as solidarity bridge builders, Mena and Moreira offered unique perspectives on his death and legacy today. Since 1984, CRISPAZ has been working to create links between the people of El Salvador and the U.S. and Canada that around grounded in a sense of peace and common humanity. The interview was recorded on Wednesday, March 15, 2017, and our guests joined us from their office in San Salvador, El Salvador.

Christopher Kerr

Chris joined the Ignatian Solidarity Network (ISN) as executive director in 2011. He has over fifteen years of experience in social justice advocacy and leadership in Catholic education and ministry. Prior to ISN he served in multiple roles at John Carroll University, including coordinating international immersion experience and social justice education programming as an inaugural co-director of John Carroll’s Arrupe Scholars Program for Social Action. Prior to his time at John Carroll he served as a teacher and administrator at the elementary and secondary levels in Catholic Diocese of Cleveland. Chris speaks regularly at campuses and parishes about social justice education and advocacy, Jesuit mission, and a broad range of social justice issues. He currently serves on the board of directors for Christians for Peace in El Salvador (CRISPAZ). Chris earned a B.A. and M.A. from John Carroll University in University Heights, Ohio. He and his family reside in Shaker Heights, Ohio.