Los Angeles, Calif., 28 Nov 2013: Archbishop José H. Gomez blessed a plaza dedicated
to Archbishop Oscar Romero at a Los Angeles Park Nov. 23, praising the peaceful vision
of the murdered Salvadoran archbishop.
“This gathering today is such a beautiful
witness to his memory. My friends, this is what Archbishop Romero lived for,” Archbishop
Gomez said Nov. 23 at MacArthur Park in Central Los Angeles. “To see the rich and
poor, the powerful and the humble – to see people of many races and nations – all
standing together as one human family. As brothers and sisters, children of God. Living
in freedom, justice and in peace.”
Archbishop Romero became head of the Archdiocese
of San Salvador in 1977 and was a vocal critic of the human rights abuses of the repressive
Salvadoran government. He was shot and killed in 1980 while celebrating Mass at a
hospital chapel.
No one has been prosecuted for his assassination, but right-wing
death squads are suspected.
In Los Angeles on Saturday, Archbishop Gomez said
the slain archbishop lived for “the vision of the world as God created it to be.”
“This is the vision he gave his life for,” the Los Angeles archbishop added.
The
plaza dedication also unveiled a bronze statue of the Salvadoran archbishop. The statue
is six-and-a-half feet tall and 450 pounds in weight. Its creator is Salvadoran artist
Joaquin Serrano, the Southern California public radio station KPCC reports.
The
Salvadoran American Leadership and Education Fund sponsored the statute at the Monseñor
Oscar Romero Memorial Plaza.
“Monsignor Romero represents for us a symbol of
hope, someone who fought for the right things,” the fund’s executive director, Carlos
Vaquerano, told KPCC. “He was a very spiritual guy. He wasn't a politician. You know,
he was just the archbishop for the poor.” Mayor Eric Garcetti was among the dignitaries
at the ceremony.
Archbishop Gomez encouraged the crowd to work “in Archbishop
Romero’s name” for human life, liberty, dignity and immigration reform. He referred
to Archbishop Romero as a “martyr” and prayed that God bless the park.Source: CNA/EWTN
News