 
Brutal Murder of Six Jesuits Remembered in Re-enactment |
REMEMBERING THE FALLEN JESUITS: Pictured re-enacting the murder of seven Jesuits are (standing commandos) Peter Mosher and Paul Woody. Portraying the priests (left to right) are Harry O'Rourke, Michael Schreiner, Joe Graham and Tom Weir.
It was 10 years ago last month that six Jesuits, their housekeeper and her 15-year-old daughter were murdered by military troops of the El Salvadoran government. That day was relived at Saint Louis University Nov. 16, the 10th anniversary of the massacre.
Students recreated the massacre to honor the martyrs who were considered a threat because of their call to end the longstanding Salvadoran civil war and their courageous support of the Church's "preferential option for the poor."
Students dressed as El Salvadoran troops stormed the University's quad near Grand Boulevard and West Pine Mall and apprehended students and faculty portraying the martyrs. Then they simulated their brutal executions as a group of more than 100 students watched in disbelief.
One of the Jesuit martyrs, Juan Ramon Moreno, SJ, completed his graduate degree at SLU in 1966.
In addition to honoring the memory of the martyrs of the University of Central America, the re-enactment served to highlight the role of the U.S. Army's School of the Americas at Fort Benning, Ga., in training the El Salvadoran troops who committed the murders.
The re-enactment was part of three weeks of events devoted to remembering the martyrs and the growing effort to close the School of the Americas. Following the re-enactment, University President Lawrence Biondi, SJ, offered a prayer and delivered remarks stressing the need to close the School of the Americas.
On Nov. 18, more than 130 students, faculty and alumni traveled to Fort Benning to participate in a national "teach-in" and to protest the School of the Americas. Biondi led the group in prayer before they left and blessed the three buses before their departure.
Saint Louis University had one of the largest student representations at the demonstration, which drew students from every Catholic, Jesuit college or university in the nation. More than 10,000 people were involved in the event.
Through Biondi's support, the University covered the costs of the trip, except for meals. Participants were asked, but were not required, to contribute $20 for the effort.
Graduates of the School of the Americas have been linked to numerous atrocities since its founding in 1946. The controversial facility continues to train military personnel from several Central and South American countries despite increasing public outcry to close the school.
"We are working to educate our fellow citizens about the School of the Americas," said Dr. John Slosar, professor of social service and an organizer of the re-enactment. "We are confident that once Americans know what the school is and what its graduates have done and are still doing, they will join with us in calling for the immediate closing of the school."
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