Cincinnati celebrates CRISPAZ 25th anniversary with two events. Everyone invited!

Sept 26: Free all-day events at Xavier University
Oct. 16: Evening fundraiser at Laurel Court

Daytime events on Sept. 26 will be held at XU’s Bellarmine Chapel. Evening events will be held in the Williams School of Business, on the Xavier campus right next to Bellarmine Chapel.

“We’ve chosen Bellarmine Chapel as the focal point of our Cincinnati celebration because of the parish’s historic connection with the Sanctuary Movement, which placed refugees from El Salvador’s civil war in homes throughout the Tri-State region,” said Dennis O’Connor, CRISPAZ executive director. “In fact, CRISPAZ moved its U.S. headquarters to Cincinnati in 2008 because of the concentration of former board members and longtime friends of El Salvador living in and around Southwestern Ohio and Northern Kentucky.”

Sept 26 Schedule of Events (All are free and open to the public. Free-will offerings will happily be accepted.)

9–10 am: Bellarmine Chapel
Presentation: A history of CRISPAZ and its relationship to El Salvador

10:15-11:15 am:  Bellarmine Chapel
Presentation: A concise history of the Sanctuary Movement

11:30 am: Bellarmine Chapel
Mass in memory of Salvadoran martyrs (specifically, Oscar Romero and the six Jesuits and two laywomen killed at the University of Central America), celebrated by Father Ken Overberg, SJ. Irene Hodgson is arranging to include in the liturgy Xavier’s "relics" of these martyrs: blood and soil taken from the rose garden at the UCA after the murders of the six Jesuits and Elba and Celina Ramos and a piece of cloth from the garments worn by Romero when he was murdered at the Divine Providence Chapel in San Salvador.

1:30–4 pm: Bellarmine Chapel
Central American Round Table, featuring speakers from the region with expertise about El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Honduras.

7 pm: Basement of Williams School of Business, next to Bellarmine
Showing of the movie “Romero” and discussion of the role Archbishop Oscar Romero has played in the people and government of El Salvador.

Please forward this invitation to others who are interested in remembering the Salvadoran martyrs, celebrating the history of CRISPAZ and caching up on what is happening in Central American today.

Oct. 16 Fundraiser: Mark your calendar!
This evening of music, good food and beverages at Laurel Court, a Cincinnati landmark, will be an opportunity to reconnect with CRISPAZ supporters past and present, share stories about El Salvador and help ensure a future for CRISPAZ and its work of accompaniment in El Salvador. More will be coming your way soon about this event. For more details...

For more information about Sept. 26 or Oct. 16, contact the CRISPAZ office at 513-38-4520.

For information about CRISPAZ anniversary celebrations in other locations