 Romero Vive
What is Romero Justice Week? | Download the 2008 Packet! |See Events from 2007 | See Events from 2008
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Upcoming Events:
April: Berkeley, CA
Romero Justice Week 2008
 March: In Washington DC, SHARE cosponsored a gathering on March 22 to honor Romero. The event used Romero’s legacy to shed light on the situation for immigrants in the United States; as Romero said in the quote on the banner at right, "it is sad to have to leave one's homeland because it lacks justice and dignified work." Poetry, dance, and fantastic movement made for a lively commemoration of Romero’s spirit – which continues to live in the heart of all Salvadorans! 
SHARE also cosponsored an event on March 25th at American University in which the many Salvadorans who work in the University’s cafeterias were honored. The ecumenical service complete with a delicious Salvadoran meal for lunch made this solemn occasion an opportunity for fellowship.
Events in the Mid Atlantic region continued with gatherings in Baltimore, where events to honor Romero were held at St. Michael - St. Patrick Catholic Church and Sacred Heart Church. Also, on March 30th, board member Gigi Gruenke and friend of SHARE Scott Wright hosted an event at St. Aloysious church in which they hosted a discussion about Romero’s legacy and environmental justice. Outside of the metro DC area on the 30th, a caf é was hosted in Seattle by St. Patrick’s Church, and a large event was hosted in Milwaukee by the Wisconsin sister parishes. All events were profoundly inspiring for all involved.
 When students at Georgetown University crossed Red Square on March 24th, they got a taste of Romero's words. Recently returned delegates from the University had used sidewalk chalk to write many of Romero's most famous quotes all over the square. This was an opportunity to share what they had learned and experienced in El Salvador with their fellow students.
 Undoubtedly, the highlight of this year’s Romero Justice Week was a visit by San Salvador’s Auxiliary Bishop Monseñor Gregorio Rosa Chavez to Kansas City. This SHARE sponsored tour brought hope, inspiration, and the message against mining to the Midwest. St. Sabina Catholic Church of Belton MO hosted an event for the Salvadoran community in honor of Bishop Chavez and in Commemoration of Romero. With over 400 people in attendance, almost all of whom were Salvadoran, this mass and fiesta were filled with joy. On March 28, about 300 people from the Kansas City sister parishes joined  together to commemorate Romero at Visitation Catholic Church. Members of the group had made 300 crosses by hand with the names of all the newly added martyrs to the wall of memory in Parque Cuscatlan. Each participant took a cross to honor their memory. This action demonstrated the way in which Romero is representative of the many people who have died needlessly in an El Salvador that is still awaiting social, environmental, and economic justice.
More Romero Justice Week events to come in 2008!
Romero Justice Week 2007
March 12 - 18, 2007
In San Francisco, the Graduate Theological Union partnered with SHARE to hold a series of events reflecting on Romero's legacy of peace and what that means in our lives today. The students were able to participate in a forum discussion on immigration, watch a film about Romero's life, and engage in a contemporary spiritual service in honor of Romero.
On the evening of March 17, friends gathered in homes and churches in Baltimore, Sutter Creek, CA, and Detroit to enjoy an evening of remembering Romero.
 In Baltimore, we read the Oscar Romero Stations of the Cross (pdf) , and heard from a speaker from El Salvador. We also enjoyed pupusas, a typical Salvadoran dish! Also, on Sunday, St. Mary's Church in Baltimore re-dedicated itself to carrying out the legacy of solidarity that Romero left behind by working in solidarity with their sistering community Nueva Trinidad through a special mass. (see picture at left, with photo of Romero adjecent altar)
In Detroit and in Sutter Creek, folks gathered to watch the movie Innocent Voices, and consider the dilema of children facing the violence of civil war.
March  24-25, 2007
In San Francisco, CA The Mission Presbyterian Community Church hosted an ecumenical event in commemoration of Romero. Click here to see the flyer.
In Washington, DC, among the many events that took place was a vigil for peace outside of the White House hosted by EPICA and Witness for Peace. There about 20 people gathered to witness to the legacy of Romero and ask: "What would Romero have us do today?" Romero's against repression and in support of true and lasting peace hold true for El Salvador and beyond.
In Kansas City, folks gathered  at St. Andrew's Church to reflect on the legacy of Romero through the experiences of two people who have spent time in El Salvador. First, Pastor Ian McCrae gave a moving reflection on Romero. He was followed by Laura Bryon (pictured at right, on the left), a student from Rockhurst University who recently traveled to El Salvador to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the Martyrdom of Fr. Rutillio Grande, S.J. This event was an inspiring opportunity for fellowship as well as a challenge to carry on the legacy of Romero.
 In Towson, MD, an Adult Forum was hosted at Maryland Presbyterian Church to honor Romero by raising consciousness of human rights issues in El Salvador today. At the forum, Maria Silvia Guillen, Director of FESPAD addressed the issues of heightened violence, discrimination against youth, and environmental degradation. Then at the church service following the forum, Guillen shared a prayer in the spirit of Romero. It was a special morning in to receive the challenge of building peace in El Salvador and around the world.
March 28, 2007
 In Louisville, St. Edward's Church hosted a Justice Dinner. As each attendee arrived to the dinner they randomly pick a card from a basket. The card had one of three colors, red, blue or yellow. Ten percent of the cards were red, 30 percent were blue and 60 percent were yellow. These percentages represent the three different levels of food distribution in the world. If you selected a red card you were seated at a table with table clothes, plates, silverware and all nice trimmings. The blue card holders had a table to sit at. The yellow card holders just were given a chair to sit in, no table.
 The dramatic part of the evening happened when the food was served. The upper level was served and did not have to leave their seats. They were served more food than they could eat and it just kept coming. The second level had to go into a buffet line but only was served a piece of chicken, rice and a glass of cold water. The third level also had to get up and get their food but they were only served a cup of rice and a glass of warm water.
It didn’t take long before the people in the first level began sharing with the rest of the groups. After reflecting on the experience and sharing quotes by Romero, the youth of the parish shared stories highlighting the lives of young people around the world. After dinner, the group took time to reflect on injustice and the legacy of Romero in our lives today.
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