Day 4 - Hospital of Divine Providence (Chapel and home of Romero), Monseñor Romero Center (at the University of Central America), Observation point

Hospital of Divine Providence

Hospital Chapel 

The Hospital of Divine Providence, run by Carmelite Sisters of St. Teresa, opened in 1966 to provide hospice care for terminal cancer patients. 

Archbishop Romero was assassinated at the hospital chapel while saying mass. 

"At this altar Monseñor Oscar A Romero offering his life to God for his people."

Rosi (left, of Fundahmer) and Oti (our guide who knew and worked for Romero). 

 RMC delegation, Wendy and Rosi (Fundahmer) and Oti (our chapel guide).  

Monseñor Romero's living quarters (on the grounds of the hospital)

As Archbishop, Romero was offered a spacious home and expensive car in a gated community. Instead he chose to live with the sisters in this modest three-room structure on the hospital grounds.

 Statue outside home. "Monseñor Romero – Prophet and Martyr"

Bed in one corner . . .  

 Desk, typewriter and radio/cassette player in other corner.

Romero's car . . . 

and driver's license.

Words of Monseñor Romero on the day of his death (the upper part from his radio broadcast, the lower part from his homily moments for the fatal shot was fired). 

Monseñor Romero Center at University of Central America

In addition to our tour of the Center, a present-day Jesuit professor compared/contrasted the practices of Christian base communities with those of liberation theologians. (Our speaker, a Spaniard, accepted a full-time position at the University immediately following the murder of the Jesuits professors in 1979.)

Scene of the murder of six Jesuit professors and two others by US-funded government forces in 1979. The site is now a memorial rose garden. 

Door to living quarters where government forces entered in the middle of the night.

Museum

Five of the six Jesuits were Spaniards; the sixth was Salvadoran. The university housekeeper and her daughter were also killed. The husband/father of the female victims was the gardener, who happened to be off campus the evening of the attack. 

 At least one of the Jesuit martyrs was a fan of the Beatles.

Chapel

 

 "What does it mean to be a Jesuit? To commit oneself under the standard of the cross in the pivotal struggle of our time: The struggle for faith, the struggle for justice which that faith demands . . . We will not work in promoting justice without paying a price."

 Memorial altar triptych, rich in symbolism

Visitors breaking into spontaneous song at the tombs of the Jesuit martyrs.

 Below: More symbolism in this painting of eight victims.  

Los Planes de Renderos 

Vantage point overlooking San Salvador

 Pupusa dinner with employees of Fundahmer, including two cooks (left) and one of the founders (right).

 Our dependable, safe driver (left)

 Bird's-eye view of San Salvador.