World remembers murder of 6 Jesuits and 2 laywomen 25 years ago in El Salvador

(Vatican Radio) The world marked the 25th anniversary of the murder of 6 Jesuits and two laywomen in El Salvador on Sunday, one of the most chilling episodes in the unrest affecting Central America in the late 20th century.

 In the early morning of November 16, 1989, a group of soldiers entered the Jesuit residence of the University of Central America, and dragged 5 priests out of their beds, and shot them in the back of their heads in a courtyard.  They then killed another Jesuit inside the residence.  Finally, they killed the housekeeper and her teenage daughter, who were hiding in a bedroom.

Those who ordered the attack have never been brought to justice for the murders of  Fathers Ignacio Ellacuría, Ignacio Martín-Baró, Segundo Montes, Amando López, Joaquin López y López, and Juan Ramón Moreno, as well as Julia Elba Ramos and her daughter, Celina Maricet Ramos.

“We remember the martyrs with gratitude,” said Father Michael Czerny, SJ, who was sent to work at the University of Central America from Canada after the massacre.

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He told Vatican Radio the entire Church remembers their commitment to the poor and their leadership in academic life and the Church.

Father Czerny, who currently serves in the office of the President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace in Rome, said they gave an example of what Pope Francis means when he speaks of going to the peripheries.

“We pray that with the inspiration of the Jesuits and two women of the Central American University, we may continue that commitment to right the wrongs and to make it possible for everyone to live with human dignity, to live as brothers and sisters, which is what Jesus has come to do,” he said.