On April 19th, Father Frank Quintana, pastor of the Blessed Oscar Romero Catholic Community of Albuquerque, NM, (pictured above) celebrated the third Easter Sunday Mass calling for Peace with the people of Venezuela.
“April 19 is Independence Day for Venezuela. In conjunction with this anniversary, a call has gone out for people to stand in solidarity with the Venezuelan people, on this day, in response to economic sanctions imposed by the U.S. in an executive order issued by President Obama,” said Father Frank in one of the messages that went out via social media and to the press during the week prior to the Mass.
“Our Catholic community took the name of Archbishop Oscar Romero who was named a martyr by Pope Francis this year, and who will be beatified May 23. While celebrating Mass, Archbishop Romero was assassinated in 1980, because of his ardent stance with the poor and oppressed in El Salvador–a stance replicated in the process taking place in Venezuela and inspiring millions throughout Latin America.”
“Our Patron, Abp. Oscar Romero’s prophetic voice was lifted continuously on behalf of the poor and oppressed, and I believe he would be doing the same, now in solidarity with the poor of Venezuela,” explained Father Frank in his sermon during the Mass.
“We hear people say that sanctions are an alternative to war and I would say that it is not an alternative, but part of the aggression of war. I pray, and like Oscar Romero would ask, to lift our voices against those economic sanctions and call them what they are: evil and oppressive and that it hurts and kills those who are sick and poor.”
“There exists a small minority in this country and the world that has the bulk of the wealth and the majority who has very little or nothing at all and are unable to enjoy the happiness that God intended and wants us to enjoy. God wants us to build a just society.”
“What makes this injustice worse is when the poorest of the poor are victimized by power that imposes their will by economic aggression,” emphasized Father Frank of Obama’s recent threats.
“I thought it was very powerful. I think it’s terrible and typical USA that follows the pattern of aggression,” said Chris Schultz who attended the service.
“I would just have to say that the call to stand in solidarity with Venezuela and with those impacted by the economic sanctions drew me. The most impacted are the working class and the poor and to stand in solidarity with them. We all experience here economic hardships, but not to the degree of those facing sanctions [in Venezuela],” said Marissa Joe who attended with her daughter Callia, (shown in photo to right.)
After the Mass, parishioners joined Father Frank in informal discussion about U.S. threats against Venezuela and then outreach squads were organized to distribute educational literature at the Earth Day event in the Nob Hill District.
“Oscar Romero … said, ‘Each one of you has to be God’s microphone.’ As economic sanctions threaten Venezuelan resources for education, housing and healthcare, in the spirit of the martyred Sr. Dorothy Stang, we in the U.S. must link ourselves to our own history of solidarity with Latin America-we must be God’s microphone to call for peace and justice for the people of Venezuela,” said Father Frank Quintana whose congregation is part of the Ecumenical Catholic Communion.
