You can tell the people that if they succeed in killing me, that I forgive and bless those who do it... A bishop will die, but the Church of God, which is the people, will never perish

Óscar Romero

On May 23, 2014, Óscar Romero joined the official ranks of “the Blessed” when he was beatified in his home country, El Salvador. As archbishop, he witnessed numerous violations of human rights and began speaking out on behalf of the poor and the victims of his country's civil war. Chosen to be archbishop for his conservatism, once in office his conscience led him to embrace a non-violent form of liberation theology. He was martyred for his non-violent advocacy for the poor and marginalized. This program will include viewing the award-winning film, Romero, starring Raúl Juliá, a look at his life and accomplishments and an examination of what his witness means for the Church today.

Kathie Budesky, IHM, MA, director of Visitation North, was a staff associate of the Ignatian Program in Spiritual Direction and Retreat Ministry at Guelph, Ontario.