Wellll, last week Ana and I (Matt got sick at the last minute and couldn't go) went to El Salvador for the XXII Anniversary of the six Jesuit martyrs at the Universidad Centroamerica (University of Central America). The UCA, as it's called, is run by the Jesuits who are oftentimes regarded as progressive thinkers, pushing education, society, and the church to an entirely new level. The Jesuits (much like Archbishop Oscar Romero) were killed for "the way they lived, that is, for how they expressed their faith in love." -Dean Brackley, SJ On November 16th, 1989, their home on the university campus was stormed by US-trained commandos of the Salvadoran armed forces, who shot and killed each of them (along with their housekeeper and her daughter) and then left their bodies in the front yard. One repulsive detail that is not often shared is that their brains were also cut out and left beside their bodies, in an effort to symbolize the death of their ideas and teaching.
However, killing these Jesuits did anything but put an end to their lives, their work, or their ideas. As a Creighton student, I had the great fortune of working closely with several of the Jesuits on campus and also learned a great deal about others around the world and especially in Latin America. Each year, a delegation from Creighton goes to the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice to protest the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (formerly known as the School of the Americas). Exactly a year ago, I had opportunity to travel to Washington DC with the delegation and to join with others from around the country fighting for social justice and peaceful progress. Now, being in Nicaragua, Ana and I could not pass up the opportunity to join them once again, but this time actually in El Salvador!
Ana, Sr. Keri, and I left the house on Thursday morning at 3:30am to go to the bus station, and we didn’t arrive in San Salvador (the capital of El Salvador) until 6:30pm! On the way, we met up with Billy and Kristin Byrnes who are the two Voluntary Missionary Movement volunteers in Waslala, Nicaragua. We were welcomed into El Salvador by the VMMs’ “in-country” coordinator as well as their volunteers who live and work in San Salvador. For the remainder of the trip, we were invited to join one of the volunteers’ delegations that had arrived the same day. We were then able to take advantage of not only their transportation, but also their tours and meetings with CONFRAS (Agrarian Reform Association), the Romero Coalition, and even a woman whose husband was killed for organizing Christian communities in El Salvador during the war. We were also able to visit Romero’s house, the chapel where he was killed, and the Cathedral in which he is buried. We then spent much of our time at the UCA and house where the Jesuits were killed, and even hiked up Volcan Boquerón to see the beautiful view of San Salvador below!
Since the weekend marked the 22nd anniversary of the Jesuits’ deaths, there was a candlelight vigil and Mass held at the UCA. It was an extremely powerful (and sort of surreal) experience to be accompanying the people of El Salvador in celebrating the Jesuit martyrs. The entire weekend was very impactful and made real for me the lives of Romero, the Jesuits, and others who live, fight, and die for justice.
 |
| Leaving Managua at 5am! |
 |
| We had beautiful scenery the entire way there.. |
 |
| Crossing the boarder into Honduras! |
 |
| Romero's tomb in the basement of the Cathedral in San Salvador |
 |
| The altar where Romero was giving his last Homily when he was shot in the heart from outside the front doors of the church |
 |
| Standing on the altar looking at actual photos of Romero's death |
 |
| The Jesuit residence at the UCA After the Jesuits were murdered, this is where their bodies were left. The rose garden was created by the husband and father of the two women who were killed. |
 |
| Ana and I in the chapel at the UCA |
 |
| We ran into Luis and his wife from Guarjila, El Salvador.. I met last year when he visited Creighton! |
 |
| Our Nica contingency by the salt rug made by students of the UCA in Managua |
 |
| Our group before the candlelight vigil.. L-R: Kristin (VMM), myself, Ana (Cap Corps), Olivia (VMM in El Sal), Steven (VMM coordinator), Sr. Keri (Managua), and Billy (VMM) |
More from the candlelight vigil..
 |
| Mass |
 |
| A shot from the ride home. |
If you are interested in learning more about the Jesuit martyrs in El Salvador, I invite you to explore the following:
Dean Brackley, SJ's Reflection on the Jesuits
or
or shoot me a comment or email and I'll suggest more!! :)
Hope all is well at home! Love and miss you all!
-Beth
No comments:
Post a Comment