Canadian Bishop to Attend Ceremonies of the 20th Anniversary of Archbishop Oscar Romero’s Death

Wednesday, March 22 2000

(CCCB – Ottawa) A delegation of Church representatives from Canada, including Most Rev. Jean Gagnon, auxiliary bishop of Québec and a member of the CCCB Commission for Social Affairs, will be in El Salvador March 22-25 to take part in the events commemorating the 20th anniversary of Archbishop Oscar Romero’s assassination.

The Inter-Church Committee for Human Rights in Latin America (ICCHRLA), charged with organizing the Canadian delegation, has also invited leaders from the United and Presbyterian Churches as well as representatives from the Anglican and Evangelical Lutheran Churches to take part.

The trip to El Salvador will allow the representatives of the various Churches to see for themselves the tragic conditions of the Salvadoran people and the difficulties stemming from a life of poverty, exploitation and violence.

In addition to meeting peasants and workers from textile factories, the Church representatives will take part in a number of religious ceremonies, including an evening vigil at the spot where, during Archbishop Romero’s funeral, mourning citizens were fired upon by soldiers. Tens of thousands are expected at that vigil.

In Canada, the 20th anniversary of Archbishop Romero’s death will be marked on March 24 with ecumenical celebrations, commemorative services, prayer vigils and conferences sponsored by many dioceses and organizations.