Canadian Jesuits Commemorate
the Martyrs of El Salvador
On November 16th, 1989 during the 1980s civil war in El Salvador, six Jesuit priests, along with their housekeeper and her daughter were executed by soldiers. On this day 20 years later, Jesuit communities in Canada joined their brethren around the world to commemorate the lives and work of these 20th century martyrs. Some of the events planned included vigils, screenings of documentaries, and lectures.
Campion College at the University of Regina focused the Sunday, November 15 liturgy on the martyrs. Ten vigil candles celebrating each life sacrificed were lit before the liturgy began and Fr. Benjamin Fiore, S.J., read out each of the names as each candle was lit. Students volunteered to sing a Spanish hymn to begin the mass. Fr. Fiore’s homily included a quotation from Fr. Ignacio Ellacuria’s 1982 address at the University of Santa Clara about the tasks of a university today. After mass the congregation gathered for a reception, (courtesy of FOTO - Friends on the Outside), while some watched a film about the Church in El Salvador provided by Fr. J.P. Horrigan, S.J. According to Fr. Frank Obrigewitsch, S.J., Dean of Campion College, “The goal of the celebration was to increase the awareness of our community of the Church in El Salvador and our Jesuit work there.”
Fr. Peter Bisson, S.J., Director of the Jesuit Forum for Social Faith and Justice added, “Their martyrdom reminds us that knowledge and spirituality always have ethical and political significance.”
Canadian Jesuits International (CJI) asked for prayers for the families of the martyrs, and for the global Jesuit community, as they continue to do the work that these, and countless other men and women have given their lives for.
Text courtesy of Frank Obrigewitsch, S.J. and Ikem Opara, CJI.
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