St. Olaf students commemorate Romero’s life and assassination
Guillermo Cuellar, center, composer of the Salvadoran gospel mass in honor of Oscar Romero, provided music at a communion service at St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota. Justin Remer-Thamert, left, and Richard Aviles led the service. Metro Lutheran photo: Bob Hulteen
Oscar Romero was named archbishop of San Salvador in 1977. Having grown up as part of the economic elite in El Salvador, he eventually became the hero of the country’s poor majority, denouncing the violence of its civil war and underlying abuse and injustice. While celebrating mass on March 24, 1980, Romero was assassinated.
On the 30th anniversary of his assassination, St. Olaf College hosted Guillermo Cuellar, author of La Misa Populara Salvadoreña, the La Misa Populara Salvadoreña, for a week of teaching and music. In his opening welcome, worship leader Justin Remer-Thamert said, “Monseñor Romero called us to walk in solidarity with our sisters and brothers as Christ did. Because of this demand, on March 24, 1980, Salvadoran soldiers assassinated Monseñor Oscar Romero. Today, 30 years later, we gather here to show that this message and solidarity continue.”
Tags: archbishop of San Salvador, Bob Hulteen, El Salvador, Guillermo Cuellar, Justin Remer-Thamert, La Misa Populara Salvadoreña, March 24 1980, Monseñor Oscar Romero, Oscar Romero, popular mass, Richard Aviles, St. Olaf College
