• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Bishop Robert Barron
          • George Weigel
          • Question Corner
          • Effie Caldarola
          • John Garvey
          • Father Ed Dougherty, M.M.
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Suzanna Molino Singleton
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Paul McMullen
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Father T. Austin Murphy Jr.
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
  • Advertising
  • CR Radio
  • Printing
  • Subscribe
Children carry flags representing a variety of countries during a 2017 Mass of Thanksgiving for the canonization of St. Oscar Romero at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland. (Courtesy Arquidiócesis de Baltimore Ministerio Hispano)

Hometown Saints: Baltimore Hispanic community celebrates St. Oscar Romero

Emily Rosenthal Alster November 7, 2018
By Emily Rosenthal Alster
Filed Under: Blog, Saints, The Work of Her Hands

When I visit Emmitsburg, it’s invigorating to be on the grounds where St. Elizabeth Ann Seton made her mark. I can also see the same excitement building for the possible canonization of Blessed Stanley Rother, who completed seminary studies at neighboring Mount St. Mary’s Seminary.It’s an honor to know that such holiness was centered in an area no more than an hour from my hometown.

I could see that same overwhelming excitement on the faces of Edgar Ruano and Helman Argueta, parishioners of St. Joseph in Cockeysville, when they spoke with me about St. Oscar Romero after the Spanish Mass at their parish Sept. 15. They were preparing for his Oct. 14 canonization, when St. Romero became the first saint from El Salvador.

Both natives of the Central American country, Ruano and Argueta shared stories about their personal connections to the saint: Ruano was a member of a choir which sang for Masses celebrated by St. Romero, and Argueta was from the same hometown, Ciudad Barrios.

Maryland has one of the largest communities of Salvadorans in the United States, which was apparent during a Mass of Thanksgiving for St. Romero’s canonization Oct. 28, when members of the Hispanic community filled the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland.

They were participating in a Mass of thanksgiving for St. Romero’s canonization. I recently sat with Lia Salinas, director of Hispanic ministry for the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Nov. 6 to learn more about the event.

“Maryland has a large number of Salvadorans,” Salinas said. “There’s a big devotion for Archbishop Romero.”

The Mass was the second annual gathering of the Hispanic community in the archdiocese, following the V Encuentro gathering last year. Salinas said the plan is to host an event every year that brings the community, Archbishop William E. Lori and the auxiliary bishops together.

Salinas said Archbishop Lori shared with her that he truly cares about the Baltimore’s Hispanic Catholics and that the turnout for the Mass of thanksgiving shows the community is vibrant and present in the archdiocese.

A native of El Salvador, Salinas recalled the height of the nation’s turmoil, when she could watch bombs drop from the sky.

“To have lived in El Salvador in the 1980s, you couldn’t escape the civil war,” she said.

Salinas said she learned more about the saint when she migrated to the United States. She took it upon herself to listen to homilies and hear his message of peace.

“My devotion for him has grown stronger,” she said.

Throughout her time planning and participating in archdiocesan events surrounding the canonization of St. Romero, Salinas said she has loved to hear stories of Baltimore-area Catholics who have connections to the saint.

“People are genuinely joyful,” she said. “It’s a moment of pride for all of us.”

Watch the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen’s Mass of thanksgiving for the canonization of St. Romero:

Email Emily Rosenthal at erosenthal@CatholicReview.org

Print Print

Primary Sidebar

Emily Rosenthal Alster

Emily Rosenthal Alster

Emily Rosenthal Alster, a former staff writer for the Catholic Review, is a contributing writer. She is a lifelong resident of Maryland and a parishioner of St. John in Westminster.

Emily is a graduate of Delone Catholic High School in McSherrystown, Pa. She holds a bachelor's degree in business communication from Stevenson University.

View all posts from this author

Recent Commentary

We need rituals to mourn

This Lent, risk prayer

A Lent full of promise, steak success, cooking with children, and more (7 Quick Takes)

Archbishop Lori reflects on the Year of St. Joseph

Reason for celibacy/ Blessing for non-sacramental marriage?

Recent Local News

RADIO INTERVIEW: How to pick a Bible translation

Homebound, Operation CRS Rice Bowl nonetheless raises awareness of hunger

Father John Lesnick, known for compassionate outreach, dies at 71

Deacon Davis, who served Overlea parish for decades, dies at 84

Archdiocese of Baltimore plans ‘Safe Haven Sunday’ to fight pornography

Catholic Review Radio

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Bishops address concern over Johnson & Johnson vaccine’s abortion link
  • We need rituals to mourn
  • RADIO INTERVIEW: How to pick a Bible translation
  • Homebound, Operation CRS Rice Bowl nonetheless raises awareness of hunger
  • COVID-19 bill OK’d without Hyde language to prevent funding of abortion
  • Gomez: U.S. bishops’ working group set up last November completes work
  • This Lent, risk prayer
  • Father John Lesnick, known for compassionate outreach, dies at 71
  • In interview, pope says he will remain in Rome until death
  • A Lent full of promise, steak success, cooking with children, and more (7 Quick Takes)

Search

Membership

Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2021 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED