Campus Ministry

By Andres Lopez, Hispanic/LatinX Campus Minister and Student Neighborhood

The sun shines bright; the birds sing; in the hostel’s kitchen, someone is preparing breakfast. You take a shower, but outside the temperature reaches 92°F and the humidity is at its peak, making it feel close to 110°F. You go down and serve yourself coffee and delicious eggs, beans, fried plantain, and slices of cantaloupe for breakfast. You drink bottled water because water from the tap is contaminated. You fill your reusable bottle to drink throughout the day. Then, you lie down in the hammock to wait for the day's activities to start. During the day, sweat runs down your body; you don't mess around with El Salvador's humidity. You have to stay well-hydrated. 

El Salvador is a country with breathtaking landscapes and a vibrant culture. It's the smallest country in Central America, but it has a population of approximately 6.5 million people. Salvadorans are friendly and hospitable. They carry within them a beacon of light that serves as a sign of hope and inspiration for those seeking peace in a troubled world.

Unfortunately, the history of this small country is a testament to the devastating consequences of conflict and war. El Salvador experienced a bloody civil war from 1979 to 1992, which inflicted deep wounds and scars on its people and society. The conflict was characterized by violence, human rights abuses, and horrific massacres that left thousands of people dead. The war and the violence tested the limits of the people's resiliency and the faith of the believers.

This past May, a group of ten students, Dr. Miranda Hallett and I went to El Salvador to learn about the culture and how the country's rich history has been marked by civil war and the persecution of the Church. Yet, the efforts of peace activists can inspire us as a university community to ask God for peace in our world today.

What we learned is that amidst the war, the Catholic Church in El Salvador rose as a prophetic voice of conscience and justice, tirelessly advocating for peace, compassion, respect for human dignity, and the preferential option for the poor.

Archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero, now a saint, is the most enduring symbol of this period in Salvadoran history. Monsignor Romero lived his commitment to the poor, the marginalized, the discarded, and those who were oppressed. Romero walked alongside the people, he humbled himself like Jesus, and he opened his heart to those who lacked any type of comfort. He walked with the elderly, the kids, the peasants, the excluded. He ate, played and allowed himself to be loved; he was the voice of the voiceless. He was also a voice that brought much discomfort to those who, because of money and power, repressed and violated human rights. His voice brought so much distress, that he was assassinated while celebrating Mass on March 24, 1980. Today, Romero is seen by many as a symbol of social justice and human rights, and he is admired by all those who seek to make this world a better place to live in.

Not only did we remember and honor the memory of Archbishop Oscar Romero, we also learned about and celebrated the lives of many martyrs: Rutilio Grande, Ita Ford, Maura Clarke, Dorothy Kazel, Jean Donovan, Ignacio Ellacuría, Ignacio Martin Baro, Segundo Montes, Juan Ramon Moreno, Joaquín Lopez y Lopez, Amando Lopez, Elba Ramos, Celina Ramos, and the hundreds of people massacred in Río Sumpul, El Mozote, and other places.

Beyond the suffering of the war, human rights violations, and persecution of activists and Church leaders, El Salvador also offers a testimony of resistance, social activism, struggle, light, and hope for peace. The people of El Salvador are resilient and have managed to overcome life's difficulties. Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), ecclesial base communities, activists, diplomats, missionaries, and ordinary citizens have tirelessly worked for years to negotiate an end to conflicts and preserve peace in the country.

Kaylee Ballard, a Criminal Justice major at the University of Dayton, attended the trip. As she reflects back, she says:

“Over my time in El Salvador, I was able to not only reflect on the world we live in today, but I was also able to reflect on my relationship with God. I found myself praying constantly for reassurance that I was meant to be there. By the end of the trip, I found my answer. I am so blessed to see my privilege and see how I don’t have to worry about where my water comes from, or if I will get the right nutrients in my body to survive the insane heat. I was able to not only learn more about El Salvador, but I was also able to learn more about myself and what I truly want to do in my life. My true calling in life is to first serve God, but to secondly, realize what I was put onto this earth to do, and I believe deep down it was to help people with anything they may need.”

We all have a journey in this life. In this case, on the journey towards peace in El Salvador, there is also a profound devotion to Our Lady of Peace, a title of the Virgin Mary revered by the Salvadoran people. Mary, under this title, embodies hope and the longing for reconciliation and harmony among all peoples. Her intercession is perceived as a source of strength and comfort, guiding hearts towards forgiveness and understanding.

The University of Dayton, being a Marianist institution, has been able to consciously and unconsciously, instill these values in most of the students. Not surprisingly, Kaylee says:

“Throughout this trip when I was talking to God, I didn’t ask Him to change anything about it. Most people that live in El Salvador love it and would never want to leave; I did however ask him for forgiveness on my part from the judgment that may have come with from the information I was fed about it from the USA. I also asked Him to allow the people of El Salvador to get whatever they want and desire.

I prayed for their government to finally care about their safety and well-being, and I definitely prayed that anyone who decides to leave El Salvador has safe endeavors on their journeys.

I ask God to allow us to again not close out other places just because they may seem different than what we are used to. I ask that our next president allows us to become closer to El Salvador and allows for us to become one and more united.”

As a campus minister at the University of Dayton, and as we prepare to begin a new school year, the trip to El Salvador has helped me in many aspects of my life. I have been inspired to grow in my faith by the life examples of Monsignor Romero and Jon Sobrino, among others. I have learned about the culture and history of El Salvador and its people. I experienced the generosity of those who give out of what they have, and not out of their leftovers. I was able to create community and friendships that will last a lifetime. I gained a better understanding of some of their problems and other global issues. I've grown as a person by stepping out of my comfort zone, and I have been challenged from the perspective of the gospel and ecclesial base communities to put into practice the teachings of Jesus in order to live a faith rooted in action.

Kaylee provides another perspective and says:

“This trip has allowed me to come back to the USA and spread awareness on the current issues going on in countries and states other than our own. Just because we can’t actively see the issues going on, doesn’t mean they aren’t happening. The water crisis in El Salvador isn’t talked about enough, no one is talking about the long-term effects drinking unfiltered water has on the human body combined with the intense heat. I was also able to get a better understanding of the USA claiming that El Salvador is “unsafe”. I would personally say the USA is more unsafe than El Salvador. Is every other country other than the USA just marked unsafe because it isn’t the USA? It was a disgusting feeling to think about how I might not be safe in El Salvador, just for me to go there and experience one of the most welcoming places.

There were many ups and downs on this trip, but I realized that these are people’s everyday lives and experiences. I am so grateful for this experience and so grateful for the opportunity and amazing people I got to meet on this trip. I will carry the weight of this journey forward with me, and walk through life with this immersion in the back of my mind and heart forever. I can’t wait to put everything I’ve learned into good practice, and I definitely can’t wait to see what the future holds with this knowledge and information now brought back to the states.”

Our journey through El Salvador was a profound experience, illuminating the resilience and hope that define this beautiful country. Inspired by the life and legacy of Archbishop Oscar Romero and many other martyrs, we witnessed the unyielding spirit of a people striving for peace and justice.

This trip not only deepened our understanding of El Salvador's struggles but also enriched our own faith and commitment to social justice. As we return to the University of Dayton, we carry with us the lessons of solidarity, compassion, and the power of community. El Salvador’s story is one of hope amidst hardship, a testament to the strength of faith and the enduring quest for peace. A sacred journey!

Our Lady of Peace, St. Oscar Romero, Blessed William Chaminade, and Blessed Adele, pray for us as we continue this journey of faith and action.