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Archbishop John Wilson celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving in St George’s Cathedral, Southwark, to mark the 20th Anniversary of The Archbishop Romero Trust and the 10th Anniversary of the Oscar Romero Award Trust. The national shrine to St Oscar Romero is in Southwark and in his homily, Archbishop John said:

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“In his first Apostolic Exhortation On Love for the Poor – Dilexi te – Pope Leo holds Romero before us as a bishop who 'made his own the plight of the vast majority of his flock and made them the centre of his pastoral vision.' This is a rallying call to every parish, school, and diocese; to everyone baptised into Christ, and all who are consecrated or ordained to serve: to make our own the plight of our people.”

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Concluding his homily, he said:

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"To the Eucharistic altar we bring 'what things' are in our hearts for our Church and our world and those in need. From the Eucharistic altar we are sent out, carrying 'seeds of eternity,' ready to serve God's Kingdom. If we can, even momentarily, make the suffering plight of another person our own, we have begun to comprehend Romero and the Christ he loved.

"Through the intercession of this great saint, may we be given the grace to recognise Christ in the breaking of bread; to carry him in the breaking hearts of our world, and to live, like Romero, as pilgrims into hope - disciples of the crucified and risen Lord, whose love alone endures forever. Amen."

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The Education Service was delighted to be at this celebration. In Catholic dioceses across Scotland, England and Wales, there are 364 schools (including primary, secondary and sixth form colleges) both state and independent, that are registered and taking part in the Oscar Romero Award. The Award is helping schools to meet the expectations of the Catholic Schools Inspection framework, especially in how they are engaging with Catholic Social Teaching CST.

In the Diocese of Arundel & Brighton, 27 schools have registered for the Award. 10 of these schools have achieved Participator Level and one, St Joseph’s Specialist Trust, has attained Developer Level.

Archbishop John awarded medals, in recognition of their commitment to the memory and message of St Oscar Romero, to Mugeni Sumba, Coordinator of the Oscar Romero Award Trust, and to Clare Dixon and Julian Filochowski of the Archbishop Romero Trust.