Suresh Abboodass
A pledge to show full solidarity with the people of Ukraine in their time of trial, as a way of fulfilling the dream of the late Archbishop Oscar Romero in his pursuit of lasting peace and justice ,was made at a special ecumenical celebration to mark the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Romero Cross, the national shrine to St. Oscar Romero at St. George`s Metropoltan Cathedral on Thursday 28th September 2023.
The solemn Ecumenical Vespers was attended by the clergy from both the Catholic and Anglican Churches, prominent among them being the London Bishop of Ukraine Catholic Eparchy of Holy Family, Most Reverend Kenneth Nowakowski and Very Reverend Dr. John Hall, former Dean of Westminster Abbey.
The pledge of solidarity was made directly to the Bishop of Ukraine in London, Kenneth Nowakowski, on the sanctuary of the Cathedral by Most Reverend John Wilson Archbishop of Southwark. “We stand with you for peace and justice,” the Archbishop said as he faced Bishop Nowakowski.
Paying glowing tributes to St. Oscar Romero for his supreme sacrifice of martyrdom, Archbishop Wilson asked: “What will Oscar Romero be asking us today?” He will be asking, “what are we doing for the poor? What are you doing for peace and justice in your family, work, community and in your church?” “We also have to ask ourselves: what does the church mean for our people, for all people?”
“Each of us has a place in the church. We must take a bit of inspiration and hope in order to end poverty and fight for peace,” the Archbishop said.
In his homily, the former Dean of Westminster Abbey Dr. John Hall retraced the path of martyrdom taken by St. Oscar Romero in El Salvador on 24th March 1980. He reminded the congregation-both Catholics and Anglicans-of the political situation in El Salvador at that time. He recalled that ‘threats, murders, torture all happened in that time when Oscar Romero was Archbishop of San Salvador.’
“St. Oscar Romero had said, ‘We believe in the church of Christ. There is only one church, that is the church of the living God’”, Dr. Hall said. Paying glowing tributes to Oscar Romero for his steadfast faith and supreme sacrifice, Dr. Hall said that he was the first El Salvadorean Saint and also the first Saint of Central America.
Addressing the congregation, Reverend Michael Brunch, Dean of St. George`s Cathedral said: “We must bring others to Christ and for this we must try to be God`s microphone. We don`t have to go to El Salvador to seek justice; we have it here in our own Cathedral. It is ten years since we have had this national shrine in our Cathedral.”
Later the congregation, led by the Archbishop and the clergy, made its way to the national shrine of St. Oscar Romero to pay their homage to the saint and martyr. The Archbishop blessed the shrine with incense before kneeling down to kiss the relic- a reliquary containing a precious fragment of the blood-stained alb that Archbishop Romero was wearing at the moment of his martyrdom.
Originally a diocesan shrine, the shrine has now been elevated to that of a National Shrine to mark the 10th anniversary of its establishment in the Cathedral. This has been carried out with the agreement of the Catholic Bishops` Conference of England and Wales.
At the heart of the national Shrine stands a huge three-dimensional Cross which was designed in El Salvador by the renowned artist Fernando Llort. Inside the Cross is a reliquary which contains a precious fragment of the blood-stained alb that Archbishop Romero was wearing at the moment of his martyrdom. Alongside this can be found one of his episcopal skull caps.
Other members of the clergy who took part in the Vespers included Archbishop Emeritus of Southwark Most Reverend Kevin Macdonald, Bishop Paul Hendricks Auxiliary Bishop for the Kent Area, and Rt. Revd Christopher Chessun, Anglican Bishop of Southwark