ST OSCAR ROMERO - Holy Cross College, Ellenbrook

Today was a life changing and beautiful day. It was amazing to see Oscar Romero become a saint. I found it beautiful to see so many people from El Salvador there to celebrate his Canonisation. One of his famous quotes was, “I do not believe in death without the resurrection.If they kill me I will rise again in the people of El Salvador”. I believe that this quote was fulfilled today and he really did rise with the people of El Salvador. This proves that the community of El Salvador was impacted by his teachings and of him trying to make El Salvador a place that was just. Throughout the last two days we had the privilege of meeting those who have had the greatest pleasure of knowing him and who traveled all this way, many of whom didn’t know if they had a ticket for the ceremony when we spoke to them last night. They travelled all this way to celebrate with the Pope and with all of us as Romero became a saint.

Today I witnessed a patron and a hero of mine receive his day of glory. To be around the Salvadorian people who had met him, shook his hand and even worked with him was one of the most emotional experiences of my life. I will never truly know the impact he had on those he encountered, but I will be forever grateful for the impact he has on me. I never met him, I never shook his hand, I never worked a day with him, but I will forever feel like he was family. I will hold him, his story and the people that he worked so hard for ever so closely to my heart. May he continue to live on, not just in the heart of El Salvador, but in the heart of the College and in the heart of the world. Viva Oscar Romeo!

Today was a very significant day for myself and also our school community – The Canonisation of Oscar Romero. Starting with last night, when meeting the pilgrims from El Salvador, and getting to know a little about their stories really made today’s experience special. Sitting behind the Salvadorans made the day more special for us as it gave us a connection between our school and the people of El Salvador. The Pope wore the blood stained rope belt which had been worn by Romero, which made us realise how special the Pope found Romero to be, Overall even if we didn’t understand the language of the Mass, we could still see the importance of Romero and the other six who were canonised had on the Church and its people. To top off the day being able to see the Pope up close was a very serial experience because we had found it amazing just to be in the presence of the Pope but having him come past on his Popemobile was even more crazy. I witnessed how important Romero was to the people. Oscar Romero was known as a man of the people and this was seen significantly today and last night. This experience has really given me the opportunity to learn more about Romero and his story but through this it has also given me the courage to stand up for what I think is right. Very clearly, Romero has done the same to thousands of other people too.

Romero said, ‘I do not believe in death without resurrection, if they kill me, I will rise again in the Salvadoran people.’ We met some of those people last night and were privileged in be with them in St Peter’s Square when Romero was canonised. Archbishop Oscar Romero, our College patron, is now a saint. There was no doubt as we gathered with so many others today that Romero was revered because he was a man who had the courage to be the sort of Christian we would all want to be. He stood up for his people against all odds because he believed that was what his faith was calling him to do. Romero died because he worked to build a community of transformation in spirit of the risen Christ. This is why in 2010 we took him as our College patron – because in the life he lived he epitomised the aspirations of our College Vision. Words cannot capture all that I felt during this very special and deeply spiritual experience. It was such a privilege to be present when Pope Francis declared Oscar Romero a saint.

Today Oscar Romero became a saint. It was a most privileged moment in my life to be part of and witness this amazing man who only wanted the best for the people of his country, El Salvador. Today all his hard efforts and sacrifices that he worked hard for have been granted. It was so special being present at the Vatican, representing our College as well as making new friendships with the El Salvadorian people we have met over the past days. I am blessed to be part of this and to be able to share this experience with six people who have been my family while here in Rome.

Romero stated, “I do not believe in death without resurrection. If they kill me, I will rise again in the people of El Salvador”. At the Canonisation today, Saint Oscar Romero officially rose with the El Salvadorian people. For me, I felt like a Salvadorian whom Saint Oscar Romero rose within. It’s difficult to put words around the deeply spiritual experience of being there today with the universal church. The connectedness of the community stood out… thousands and thousands of people, from all around the world gathered as one Body of Christ to challenge ourselves individually to become more holy, like Romero. We plant the seeds that one day will grow, knowing that they hold a future promise. Santo Santo Santo!

Moving through the streets of Rome with so many people on the way to St Peter’s Square made me realise how many people had made a special journey for their saint today. The people of El Salvador would have been proud that, at last, the person they loved and revered had been acknowledged in this way. The music, the prayers, even though they were in Latin, were beautiful and fitted the occasion so appropriately. The size of the crowd didn’t really hit until after the Mass. I was there to celebrate that ‘our’ Saint’s life on earth had been seen as that of a Saint. What a reward for so many!