El Salvador martyrs inspire hope in Hispanic immigrants

En Español

COCKEYSVILLE – Lucio Martínez knows what it is like to be persecuted for his faith. Growing up in Ciudad Barrios in El Salvador, he lived through the Central American nation’s bloody civil war in the 1980s and was once captured by the Salvadoran military for professing his Catholic beliefs. 

Martínez bowed his head and clasped his hands in prayer Jan. 29 at St. Joseph in Cockeysville as he joined more than 100 others from around the Archdiocese of Baltimore in giving thanks for the recent beatification of four civil-war-era martyrs from El Salvador.

What once seemed like a nightmare became a reason to praise God.

Auxiliary Bishop Bruce A. Lewandowski, C.Ss.R., episcopal vicar for Hispanic Catholics, served as the main celebrant and homilist for the archdiocesan Mass of thanksgiving offered in Spanish. 

The Catholic Church officially beatified Blessed Father Rutilio Grande, a Jesuit priest; Blessed Father Cosme Spessotto, a Franciscan priest; and laymen Blessed Nelson Rutilio Lemus and Blessed Manuel Solórzano Jan. 22 during an outdoor liturgy in the capital city of San Salvador.

Although their assassinations were meant to instill fear and silence in the Salvadoran people, their deaths motivated many to speak and stand with the poor, oppressed and marginalized, including St. Óscar Arnulfo Romero.

Martínez recalled growing up with spontaneous visits from his grandmother’s cousin, St. Romero.

“He had a special affection for small communities. He was always loving and caring with the children, especially those who were outcast,” said the parishioner of St. Joseph.

St. Joseph has a large Hispanic community, particularly from Ciudad Barrios, where St. Romero was born and raised.

Another parishioner of St. Joseph, María Martínez de Campos, recalled living next door to St. Romero in Ciudad Barrios.  

“One should always tell the truth, in order to defend others,” she recalled the young priest saying. “One might lose the body but will not lose the soul. The Lord gave his life for us, and we owe to give our love.”

In his homily, Bishop Lewandowski noted that martyrdom produces an increase of disciples and prophets.

“Let us remember Jesus is the biggest martyr,” he said.

Even though most faithful people are not called to give their lives in a bloody martyrdom, Bishop Lewandowski said, all faithful must keep a “martyr attitude,” which includes the daily sacrifice of thinking of the wellness of others first before oneself.

The concelebrants for the Mass were Monsignor Richard Hilgartner, pastor of St. Joseph; Father John Martínez, associate pastor and vicar for Hispanic ministry at St. Joseph; Redemptorist Father Ako Trevor Walker, pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus-Sagrado Corazón de Jesús in Highlandtown; and Trinitarian Father Jose Naralely, associate pastor and vicar for Hispanic ministry at Resurrection of Our Lord in Laurel.  

Among those in attendance were Baltimore County Executive John A. “Johnny O” Olszewski Jr. and Giuliana Valencia-Banks, Baltimore County’s first immigration affairs outreach coordinator.

“Baltimore County is becoming increasingly diverse and we believe our diversity is our strength,” Olszewski said. “It is important that our immigrant community see their leadership alongside them, working with them, serving with them and helping them grow.”

Olszewski said more events for the Hispanic and immigrant community, such as the Mass of thanksgiving, should take place in Baltimore.

“The Baltimore County government and the Archdiocese of Baltimore serve the same people,” he added. “I see potential for so much good in faith partnerships.”

Valencia-Banks, who previously served as outreach and operations manager at Catholic Charities’ Esperanza Center in Fells Point, looks forward to serving the immigrant community and creating partnerships to strengthen the community.

“For a country that has gone through a very difficult time, which has been the case of El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Guatemala with the war, faith is what sustains the people,” said Lia Salinas, archdiocesan director of Hispanic Ministry. 

Devotion to St. Romero and the new beatified not only pertains to people from El Salvador, but to those from everywhere around the world, she said.

“If God is not with you during this difficult time, then who is?” Salinas asked.

Email Priscila González de Doran at pdoran@CatholicReview.org

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