USD Magazine Spring 2022

[ o p p o r t u n i t y ]

by Krystn Shrieve S The Tamarindo Foundation is changing lives in El Salvador B L O OM I N G I N P L A C E an Salvador archbishop Óscar Romero knew that he irritated people. In fact,

May 23, 2015, canonized on Oct. 14, 2018, and remains an inspiration to those at the Tamarindo Foundation, located in Guarjila, El Salvador. The foundation is named in honor of the tamarind tree, which produces brown, pod-like fruits filled with a sweet, tangy pulp used in cuisines around the world. Following the end of the civil war in 1992, it is said when residents returned to Guarjila, the tamarind tree was the only thing left standing. The Tamarindo Foundation’s name symbolizes strength, resilience and hope. The foundation’s executive director, John Giuliano, served in Latin America for 35 years. He was sent as a Jesuit novice to Tijuana, Mexico, where he

irritates us. I know that I have irritated many people, but I know that I am well liked by all those who work sincerely for the conversion of the church.” Death threats against Romero were on the rise; he was slain on March 24, 1980. His death sparked the beginning of the Salvadoran Civil War — lasting 12 years, resulting in the deaths of an estimated 75,000 people and displacing thousands more. Romero eventually became a saint. He was beatified on

injustice, that doesn’t proclaim the kingdom of God courageous- ly, that doesn’t reject the sins hu- mankind commits, that consents to the sins of certain classes so as to be accepted by those class- es, then you are not doing your duty, you are sinning, you are be- traying your mission.” “The church was put here to convert humankind, not to tell people that everything that they do is all right; and because of that, naturally, it irritates peo- ple. Everything that corrects us

he was reviled by many for his stance against poverty and op- pression. The government found him exasperating, the Catholic Church worried he was always making waves and political groups felt he shouldn’t stick his nose where it didn’t belong. Romero once said, “If you live out a Christianity that is good, but that is not sufficient for our times, that doesn’t denounce

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