Christians honor Salvadoran martyr

Many of Hollister’s churches share a unique ecumenical tradition, participation in a worship experience called “Holy Stir.” Several times a year members of a variety of congregations gather together to share a common liturgy of prayers, message and music.
The next of these events will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 18 at St. Benedict’s Roman Catholic Church, 1200 Fairview Road. It will focus on the Christian values of “faith and justice.”
The evening will draw inspiration from the life of the Most Reverend Oscar Romero, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of San Salvador who was martyred in 1980 for his commitment to the poor. Five murals featuring Romero by artist Joel Bergner were created several years ago to honor him at at San Francisco’s Grace Episcopal Cathedral; they have been borrowed to display in Hollister for this occasion.
The service will be followed by a reception to highlight the work for human rights and community development in El Salvador of Foundation Cristosal. The Rev. Amy Denny Zuniga, who was ordained to the priesthood during her ministry in El Salvador and is now Rector of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Hollister, is a board member of the nonprofit foundation sponsoring the tour of these murals to several local churches.
Oscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdamez was a priest of the Catholic Church in the Central American nation of El Salvador. Born in 1917, he was selected Archbishop of San Salvador in 1977, and to the surprise of many, he became a spokesman for “liberation theology” by speaking out in support of the poor and those being persecuted and denied human rights by the government.
A humble man, Romero moved out of his bishop’s palace to live in a hospital. It was in that hospital’s chapel where he was assassinated by the members of a right-wing death squad while celebrating Mass on March 24, 1980, setting off a 12-year civil war.
Romero is considered the unofficial patron saint of El Salvador by much of the country’s population, and a campaign to have him declared an official saint was begun in 1997. Pope John Paul II bestowed upon him the title “Servant of God”; the canonization process is continuing.
Romero, who is often referred to as “San Romero” in his native country, has had an influence upon Christians far beyond the borders of that small nation
• He is one of the 10 20th century martyrs from around the world depicted in statues above the Great West Door of London’s Westminster Abbey.
• The Episcopal Church in the United States has added Romero’s name to its official calendar to be remembered with scripture readings and special prayers annually on the anniversary of his martyrdom.
• A 1989 motion picture, “Romero” starring Raul Julia, brought his story of courage and dedication to justice to the attention of the U.S. public.
For more information, contact St. Benedict’s Church at (831) 637-9212.
Chuck Flagg is a retired teacher with a passion for religion. Reach him at

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