Scottish Catholic Observer

Scotland’s Catholic charity SCIAF and a Labour MSP also joined in the celebrations which took place across the country as the martyred Archbishop of San Salvador was elevated to sainthood.

As Catholic communities in Rome, South America and around the world gathered on Sunday, the Jesuits at the Sacred Heart parish in Edinburgh made their own special contribution to the commemoration and adoration to St Oscar Romero.

A new shrine in the parish church, dedicated to the saint, was opened and blessed by parish priest Fr William Pearsall SJ, with music provided by the Sacred Heart music group playing violins, horns and guitars.

Fr Pearsall said: “The witness of St Oscar Romero continues to be an effective call to action against injustice, not only to Christians but more universally.”

He pointed out that there is a Romero Street in Edinburgh, and said he sees this as a civic response of solidarity with those who have been abused by power and wealth.

The parish has teamed up with Caritas to initiate a project to promote the shrine with 16 senior pupils from local schools St Augustine’s and St Thomas of Aquin’s.

The young people have each committed to spending 20 hours to promote the shrine in the local area, through their own and other schools, parishes, civil society and social media.

“We are delighted with this collaboration,” Fr William said. “It will help spread the awareness of St Oscar Romero and his message which is still so relevant today.”

The shrine houses a relic of St Romero—a piece of the bloodstained alb he was wearing when he was assassinated while celebrating mass in March 1980.

The relic was donated by Jan Graffius, curator of collections at Stonyhurst College, and a leading expert on relics. Jan has spent time in San Salvador with the Sisters who care for the relics, offering her expertise in conservation.

Two new artworks are to be commissioned for the shrine, ahead of its solemn dedication on March 24 next year, the feast of St Oscar Romero and the anniversary of his assassination. Archbishop Leo Cushley will celebrate Mass and unveil a newly commissioned painting by Peter Bridgeman, and a new silver reliquary.

Br Ken Vance SJ, who is a member of the Edinburgh community, attended the canonisation in St Peter’s Square on Sunday. So too did Alistair Dutton, a former Jesuit novice and now director of SCIAF.

Mr Dutton said: “For me the canonisation was a celebration of the life of Oscar Romero and a call for all of us to try and emulate a man that remains a tremendous inspiration for millions. He was someone who was a living example of a Faith that does justice, of a Faith that considers the poor first, last and always. That’s why he’s a patron of SCIAF and why we try to follow in his footsteps.

“On Sunday there was a strong air of prayerful reflection in St Peter’s Square during the Mass and canonisation.

“The El Salvadorians and other Latin Americans had all got there very early to make sure they got to the front. It was a carnival atmosphere as people anticipated the saint for whom they’d waited for so long.”

Neil Findlay, Labour MSP for the Lothian region, said: “St Oscar Romero came from the Conservative tradition within the Church in El Salvador but it was his experience of seeing the appalling treatment of the peasants and the poor by the brutal regime of General [Carlos Humberto] Romero and the right wing Junta that took over from the General that radically changed his outlook.

“Romero became a voice for the millions of downtrodden and dispossessed, for the tortured and the persecuted.

“Romero’s sermons and oratory repeatedly highlighted their plight and he became a major voice for human rights and social and economic justice… Romero was totally committed to changing the socioeconomic structures that caused social inequities, urging his congregation to be active in changing those structures for the benefit of all.

“Romero was a progressive human rights activist in one of the most dangerous places in the world at that time. He has rightly been recognised by the Church.”