Bishop Edward Malesic’s second day visiting El Salvador and the diocesan mission was long and busy. (See photo gallery above.)
He spent some time in reflection at Divina Providencia Chapel, where St. Oscar Romero was killed while celebrating Mass on March 24, 1980, during the civil war in El Salvador.
Accompanying the bishop were Father Steve Vellenga, pastor of St. Mary Parish in Painesville and director of the diocesan Mission Office, and Father Paul Schindler and Father John Ostrowski, diocesan priests assigned to El Salvador as members of the Cleveland Latin American Mission Team.
They also visited the Metropolitan Cathedral of San Salvador and the tomb of St. Oscar Romero, who was the fourth archbishop of San Salvador.
San Salvador Archbishop Jose Luis Escobar Alas hosted the group for lunch.
After lunch, they toured the Museum of Salvadoran Martyrs on the campus of the University of Central America. The museum honors the bishops, priests, religious and laity who suffered martyrdom. Their memories are preserved through photos, clothing, other artifacts and even the earth where they shed their blood. Among the items Bishop Malesic viewed was the blouse Ursuline Sister Dorothy Kazel was wearing when she, two Maryknoll sisters and lay missionary Jean Donovan were murdered on Dec. 2, 1980. Sister Kazel and Donovan were from the Diocese of Cleveland. A UCA student guided the group through the museum.
Their next stop was the University Chapel, where six Jesuits who were martyred in El Salvador are buried.
The group also traveled to San Pedro Nonualco, where the four church women were murdered. While there, they celebrated Mass in the chapel built on the site where the women died.
The bishop and his companions paid a visit to the Community of Oscar Romero, as well. (See the companion story and photo gallery.)
Bishop Malesic and Father Vellenga headed south on Feb. 14 and will return on Feb. 17.
The diocese has operated a mission in El Salvador since 1964.