(CLEVELAND, OH) – On Oct.14 at 5:30 p.m., the Most Reverend Nelson J. Perez is scheduled to be the celebrant at St. John Cathedral (East 9th Street and Superior Ave.) for a special Mass honoring Blessed Oscar Romero’s canonization. All are invited to attend.
Oscar Romero, the fourth bishop of San Salvador, was shot on March 24, 1980 for denouncing the violence of El Salvador’s civil war. He was an outspoken social activist who railed against poverty, social injustice, assassinations, torture and other injustices. Archbishop Romero was murdered while offering Mass inside the chapel at the Hospital of Divine Providence in San Salvador. An estimated 250,000 mourners attended his funeral Mass.
Blessed Oscar Romero has accompanied the Diocese of Cleveland mission in life, in death and in spirit. The diocese established a mission in El Salvador more than 50 years ago and since then, many diocesan priests, religious sisters and others have served at the mission. The Cleveland Latin American Mission (CLAM), now known as the COAR Peace Mission, has served El Salvador since 1964. Members of CLAM had the opportunity to meet Archbishop Romero. Members, including religious, are sharing their experiences throughout the weekend on WVIZ, WCPN and online at coarpeacemission.org.
Archbishop Romero was declared a martyr by Pope Francis on Feb. 3, 2015. During his beautification ceremony Pope Francis said, “His ministry was distinguished by his particular attention to the most poor and marginalized.”
Archbishop Romero’s canonization will take place in Rome on Oct. 14 in a ceremony at the Vatican along with the canonization of Pope Paul VI, the pontiff who appointed him in 1977 as archbishop of San Salvador, and five other new saints.
Contact: Brooke Uehlein
Manager, Communications
216-696-6525 Ext. 4460