Crosses on the Quad explained at Salvadoran martyrs commemoration
Maria Pia Negro
Issue date: 11/24/09 Section: News
The ceremony for the 20th anniversary of the death of the Jesuit priests killed in El Salvador struck Loyola students, professors, administrators and even a group of students from Notre Dame Prep.
One of the most shocking parts of the commemoration that took place on November 16 was the representation, by Loyola's Jesuits, of the six Jesuit faculty members at the University of Central America, killed during the Salvadorian civil war.
"Seeing the six Jesuits speak about the six Jesuits who were killed added a sense of humanity to the still photos and numbers we often see associated with the martyrs," said Julie Sayo, '11.
Rosie Miola, '12, service and spirituality student program assistant at the Center for Community Service and Justice, explained that the decision to match up members of our community with the martyrs sought to show how those people affected their campus and communities and how our campus could be affected if that sort of tragedy happened here.
The group of Jesuits included Fr. Linnane, Fr. Brown, Fr. Connor, Fr. McDermott and Fr. Donahue. Campus Ministry Associate Director George Miller filled in for Fr. Jack. They read the priests biographies and lit a candle on their name saying presente, "present" in Spanish, to acknowledge their sacrifice and to recognize their presence with us now.
Fr. Connor, who knew the Jesuit priests who were assassinated, said he was grateful for the opportunity to revere these heroic martyrs: "It was a privilege to "re-present" - make physically present again - a Jesuit brother who was certainly with us there in spirit."
Other martyrs were honored as well; Anne and Marie McSweeney represented the housekeeper and her daughter who were killed along with the Jesuits. Two Maryknoll sisters from Baltimore and CCSJ staff members represented the four American churchwomen who were murdered, raped and tortured on December 2, 1980.
The commemoration started by explaining the white crosses placed on the Quad, followed by a 17-minute clip of the documentary "Enemies of War," which showed how these priests and educators died as witness to their faith and commitment to the people of El Salvador and the role of the United States during the civil war.
One of the most shocking parts of the commemoration that took place on November 16 was the representation, by Loyola's Jesuits, of the six Jesuit faculty members at the University of Central America, killed during the Salvadorian civil war.
"Seeing the six Jesuits speak about the six Jesuits who were killed added a sense of humanity to the still photos and numbers we often see associated with the martyrs," said Julie Sayo, '11.
Rosie Miola, '12, service and spirituality student program assistant at the Center for Community Service and Justice, explained that the decision to match up members of our community with the martyrs sought to show how those people affected their campus and communities and how our campus could be affected if that sort of tragedy happened here.
The group of Jesuits included Fr. Linnane, Fr. Brown, Fr. Connor, Fr. McDermott and Fr. Donahue. Campus Ministry Associate Director George Miller filled in for Fr. Jack. They read the priests biographies and lit a candle on their name saying presente, "present" in Spanish, to acknowledge their sacrifice and to recognize their presence with us now.
Fr. Connor, who knew the Jesuit priests who were assassinated, said he was grateful for the opportunity to revere these heroic martyrs: "It was a privilege to "re-present" - make physically present again - a Jesuit brother who was certainly with us there in spirit."
Other martyrs were honored as well; Anne and Marie McSweeney represented the housekeeper and her daughter who were killed along with the Jesuits. Two Maryknoll sisters from Baltimore and CCSJ staff members represented the four American churchwomen who were murdered, raped and tortured on December 2, 1980.
The commemoration started by explaining the white crosses placed on the Quad, followed by a 17-minute clip of the documentary "Enemies of War," which showed how these priests and educators died as witness to their faith and commitment to the people of El Salvador and the role of the United States during the civil war.
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Quote:
"The commemoration started by explaining the white crosses placed on the Quad, followed by a 17-minute clip of the documentary "Enemies of War," which showed how these priests and educators died as witness to their faith and commitment to the people of El Salvador and the role of the United States during the civil war. (Continued…)
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