Southwark: Romero Cross Blessing St George's Cathedral

The Archdiocese of Southwark, in collaboration with Archbishop Romero Trust and CAFOD, has issued an open invitation to an ecumenical service of prayer, with the blessing and dedication of a new Romero Cross and memorial being installed at St George’s Catholic Cathedral in Southwark, London.

The service will be held on Thursday 19 September at 6pm. All are welcome.

Archbishop Peter Smith will preside. Msgr Ricardo Urioste, the 88 year-old former Secretary and Vicar General to Archbishop Romero, plans to travel from San Salvador and will give the homily. Also present will be Hallam BishopJohn Rawsthorne of the Romero Trust and Rev Dr John Hall of Westminster Abbey.

The huge Romero Cross and Reliquary is being erected in the Metropolitan Cathedral of St George Southwark, in honour of Archbishop Romero, who was assassinated in El Salvador on 24 March 1980. The three-dimensional painted Salvadoran Cross, which is four metres high, contains a fragment of Archbishop Romero’s blood-stained alb and his zucchetto.

It was commissioned by the Archbishop Romero Trust especially for St George’s, and the faces of the Cross were designed by the renowned Salvadoran artist, Fernando Llort. Alongside a bust of Oscar Romero, the Cross will stand inside the Cathedral between the St Joseph and the St Patrick chapels. It will create a special ‘Romero Space’ for prayer in honour of the revered modern martyr - who was assassinated in San Salvador 33 years ago whilst celebrating Mass.

After the service, everyone is welcome for a drinks reception in the Amigo Hall, next to the Cathedral.