Day 2 - Wed., Feb. 9, 2011
Today included a visit to the Parque Cuscatlan (Cuscatlan Park) in San Salvador to see the civilian war memorial naming those who lost their lives during the civil war of the 1980's. Then onto La Divina Providencia (a cancer hospital run by nuns) where Monsignor Oscar Romero lived and was martyred in 1980 while presenting the elements during communion. One of the nuns living at the Divina shared the details of Romero's life as he spoke out about poverty, social injustice, assassinations, and torture of the Salvadoran peoples. In part of the sister's narrative, she offered for us to stand behind the altar where Romero was standing when the hired assassin came thru the front doors of the chapel. This was a very touching experience for us. The image of Archbishop Romero is found everywhere in El Salvador, a testament to the greatness of this man.
We then travelled on across the vast city of San Salvador (2 million population) to the UCA (University of Central America) to a small museum dedicated to the memory of 6 Jesuit Priests, their housekeeper and her daughter who were executed by the soldiers in retaliation for speaking out against the human rights violations by the military.
From there, we went to lunch and visted artisan shops, beforing heading to Berlin. We got settled into our rooms and had a meeting with the Pastoral Team, exchanging greetings and discussing the week's plans. We end each evening with devotions and reflecting on the day's experiences.
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