The legacy of Oscar Romero, former Archbishop of San Salvador who was assassinated in 1980, continues to inspire people around the world. CAFOD chair, Bishop John Arnold, has written about how Romero has inspired him, and how a gift in a will can enable us all to leave our own legacy of hope.
I decided some years ago to leave a gift to CAFOD in my will. As someone who has long appreciated CAFOD’s work and is very aware of our Christian duty to stand in solidarity with people who are poor, I felt it was the right thing to do.
On my trip to El Salvador with CAFOD last year, I met many people deeply moved by the life of Blessed Oscar Romero and his determination to speak out against injustice. When visiting the radio station at the Jesuit university in San Salvador, I was reminded that nearly 40 years ago, CAFOD funded Romero’s own radio station after it was blown up by the military.
A radio station might not sound the most obvious way of helping those most in need, but Romero used the service to give his homilies and denounce the violence carried out by the government and death squads. He always proclaimed that Gospel values must be at the heart of shaping a way forward. His radio broadcasts were a huge source of hope for the oppressed people of El Salvador.
I know I will not see the outcome of the gift in my will. It is a gift I give with hope. I have seen how powerful hope is. Our support gives communities hope and this hope empowers them to see their God-given potential. With God’s grace, our work together becomes a catalyst for building a better world.
The roots of poverty and injustice are complex and there are no quick fixes. It’s a slow process to change the systems that keep people in poverty and enable communities to overcome injustice, conflict, or natural disasters. That’s why I know the gift in my will, and all the legacy gifts CAFOD receive, will be vital to help bring this about.
We’ve seen in the news the impact of extreme weather. Even in the past few weeks thousands of lives, homes and businesses have been ruined by storms and flooding. It takes years to recover from such events. We also continue to hear about the difficult peace process in Colombia and the terror in Syria. Whilst causes are different, it also takes years for communities to recover from oppressive regimes or conflict like these, or indeed Romero’s beloved El Salvador.
In all CAFOD’s projects we are looking to the long-term possibilities. As well as helping meet people’s basic needs such as providing food and clean water, we are helping communities build their skills and their confidence so that they will one day be able to support themselves and share their knowledge and experience with their children and other communities too.
Watch this film to see how we work in partnership with communities
Whether people are trapped in poverty due to oppressive regimes, extreme weather events or the lack of an infrastructure which provides education and healthcare, it’s a long process in development. I want to continue to walk alongside these communities in the future through the gift in my will. The faith and determination of Oscar Romero encourages me to do so, and encourages all of us to be there for our vulnerable brothers and sisters for the long haul.
I want to leave a legacy of faith, hope and love. Whilst most of us in this country aren’t called to the same fate as Romero, we can be inspired by him to leave our own legacy to make sure that in the future everyone’s voice is heard.
To find out more about writing your will and including a gift to CAFOD, get in touch with Hannah on 020 7095 5367 or at legacy@cafod.org.uk
CAFOD stands for the Catholic Agency For Overseas Development. We are an international development charity and the official aid agency of the Catholic Church in England and Wales. We stand beside people living in poverty – whatever their religion or culture. Through local church partners, we help people directly in their own communities, and campaign for global justice, so that everyone can reach their full potential. How to get involved with CAFOD None of our work is possible without you. Whether you donate, campaign, download prayers or volunteer we are grateful for your support. View all posts by CAFOD
