Jesuit Apostolates Commemorate 20th Anniversary of Six Jesuits Murdered in El Salvador

(Courtesy Scranton Univ.)

On Nov. 16, 1989, six Jesuits, along with a housekeeper and her daughter, were killed by members of the El Salvadoran military at the University of Central America Pastoral Center in San Salvador. The Jesuits had been labeled subversives by the Salvadoran government for speaking out against its oppressive socioeconomic structure.

To mark the 20th anniversary of their murders, the U.S. House of Representatives passed House Resolution 761, "Remembering and commemorating the lives and work of (the Jesuit Fathers, their housekeeper and her daughter) on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of their deaths at the University of Central America Jose Simeon Canas in San Salvador, El Salvador." The resolution was sponsored by Rep. James McGovern (D) of Massachusetts.

Killed in the attack were Ignacio Ellacuria, S.J., 59; Amando Lopez, S.J., 53; Joaquin Lopez y Lopez, S.J., 71; Ignacio Martín-Baró, S.J., 50; Juan Ramon Moreno, S.J., 56; Segundo Montes, S.J., 56; Julia Elba Ramos, 42, the housekeeper of the Jesuit residence, and her daughter Cecilia Ramos, 15.

In remembrance of those who lost their lives, various Jesuit apostolates, including colleges, universities and parishes, are commemorating November 16th, 2009 with memorials, Masses and religious services. A list of institutions participating appear below with events listed if available. Please check back regularly as this list is ever growing.

Boston College Remembers the 20th Anniversary of Murders of Jesuits in El Salvador

Jesuit Father J. Donald Monan (Courtesy Boston College)

Boston College will hold two events in November marking the 20th anniversary of the murders of six Jesuit priests, their housekeeper and her daughter on the grounds of the Jesuit community at the University of Central America in El Salvador.

Wednesday, Nov. 4, 7 p.m., Gasson 100: Boston College Chancellor Jesuit Father J. Donald Monan will moderate a program titled "Living Legacies: the 20th Anniversary of the Martyrs of El Salvador." The panel will include Jesuit Father Rodolfo Cardenal, former vice rector at the University of Central America who lived with the six Jesuits; Elizabeth Lira, a faculty member and director of the Centro de Etica at Universidad Alberto Hurtado in Santiago, Chile; and US Rep. James McGovern (D-Mass.), who as an aide to the late US Rep. Joseph Moakley (D-Mass.) was instrumental in reshaping American policy toward the nation where the murders occurred.

Monday, Nov. 30, 4:30 p.m., Robsham Theater: Fr. Monan will moderate a discussion with historian Noam Chomsky and University of Central America co-founder Jesuit Father Jon Sobrino — who was away from the Jesuit residence the night of the murders — titled "Memory and Its Strength: The Martyrs of El Salvador."

Fr. Monan, who was president of Boston College at the time of the killings, worked tirelessly to marshal the Jesuits' response to the murders, urging the United States Congress to pressure the Salvadoran government to bring the killers to justice.