On the 33rd anniversary of the murder of the #UCA #Jesuits of #ElSalvador & their mother & daughter companions, I treasure the unforgettable @RomeroTrust pilgrimage that took us there, & the people we met. #SanRomero, pray for us all. 1/
Our visit to #UCA in 2017 was only our 2nd & 3rd days in #SanSalvador, staying @ the beautifully located #CentroLoyola. We met wonderful people everywhere who welcomed us with open arms. They asked that we might share their story with others when we returned home. @RomeroTrust 2/
We were able 2 see the rose garden where 4 of the #Jesuits were shot dead. 2 more & the #Ramos mother & daughter were shot inside. Poignantly, the gardener #Obdullo was their husband & father. He found the bodies at dawn. The women had stayed over 2 be safer from govt violence 3/
Our @RomeroTrust pilgrimage was greeted and led through the #UCA site & told the story by these amazing & articulate young people. So heartening to feel their ownership of the history & significance. The #CentroMonsenorRomero they work for has a well-kept museum too... 4/
It was silencing and so powerful to be in the room where #Elba & #Celina bled and died. Sitting here now, the memories & emotions come flooding back. @m_sumba at the memorial outside the room where they had expected to be safe. @TheJesuits @jesuitnews #UCA '@RomeroTrust @CAFOD 5/
The diagram shows where the 8 were murdered. The #museum displays clothes of the 6 #Jesuits, including dressing gown of #Ellacuria, shredded by bullets. The Jesuit house was strafed, including books, typewriters & #Romero's photo was both shot and burned with a flame-thrower. 6/
#Ellacuria was a special target for the military as he was such a formidable intellect and brilliant at dialogue & argument. He memorably wrote, "With #MonsenorRomero, God passed through #ElSalvador" @RomeroTrust 7/
The one that got away was #Jesuit Fr #JonSobrino: he was abroad, in the Philippines with Fr Eamonn O'Brien. We were privileged 2 meet him @ evening lecture @ #UCA, where @CAFOD Clare Dixon was honoured by #Jesuits with award for 40 years of friendship & service in #ElSalvador 8/
#UCA celebrated a beautiful thanksgiving Mass for the martyrs, with a full house, much joy and music, #Cardinal #RosaChavez, friend of #Romero and the #Jesuits preached & presided. '@RomeroTrust @TheJesuits 9/
Most striking is the way that #Elba & #Celina #Ramos are never at the margins, or in danger of being passed over. The #UCA #Jesuits habitually put them at the centre, and in the first place of honour and memory. @RobertEllsberg @IGsolidarityNET @jesuitnews 10/
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