The wait was
long but, today, there are only nine days left in the history of the
universe during which we will refer to Oscar Romero simply as “Archbishop Romero.” It will be “Blessed Oscar Romero” after May
23 and that date is so close that workers have started to put up the dais that
will be used for the beatification ceremony (photo). The choir that will sing during their
ceremony is in their final rehearsals and the finishing touches are being put
on all the plans for the event.
The objective
of this post is simple: to help you pick the best spot to watch the ceremony from
if you will be in San Salvador for the beatification. There will be large crowds.
We don’t know exactly how many people will show up, but the size of the
theater of action will be larger than New York City’s Central Park. That is the size of the area that will be
closed off to traffic, though the crowds will be concentrated mainly on Alameda
Roosevelt, which runs west from Downtown San Salvador to the Divine Savior
Plaza where the beatification will take place, and on Paseo General Escalon
which runs further west from Divine Savior to a roundabout called Redondel
Masferrer. There are also two offshoots
north and south from Divine Savior Plaza, making the figure of a large,
sideways cross. Throughout this expanse,
you can watch the ceremony on large television screens and Eucharistic stations
will be available as well.
What are the
choice spots? I personally am liking the
part of the scheme that organizers are calling “Sector K.” [Maps.] This is the eastern-most end of the
west-to-east transverse, where Alameda Roosevelt is bounded by Rosales Hospital
on the north and Cuscatlan Park on the south.
The organizers have labeled the various spaces based on how crowded they
will be: red is the most crowded, orange less so, yellow less crowded, and
green is the most sparse. Sector K is
rated yellow. I also like it because
it’s by Cuscatlan Park, which can provide a cool, shady spot in a pinch. Plus, you can check out the Monument to
Memory and Truth, with its Vietnam Wall-like listing of civil war victims
(including Archbishop Romero). If you or
someone you are traveling with is disabled, there will be special facilities
provided at Magico Gonzalez stadium, which is in Sector J, which is immediately
west of Sector K. Being at the edge
closest to downtown, this may also be the easiest place to get in and out of
the event zone from.
What—you’re
feeling more adventurous? Then, by all
means, head to the place they are calling “Ground Zero”—the Divine Savior Plaza
and environs. If you are lucky enough to
have an invitation, because you are a member of the clergy or a head of state,
a member of the communities selected to represent those Romero cared about, a
member of the press or of a registered foreign delegation, then you will be
lucky enough to be among the 6,000 or so who will be placed on the monument’s
grounds (“Sector A”). Good luck getting
in and out of the area during the ceremony, which runs from about 7 am to 1 pm! If you don’t have a VIP invite, you can still
muscle your way into the surrounding streets, where over 60,000 souls will be tightly
packed around the square (“Sector F”). A
better option might be the northern and southern offshoots from the Plaza
(“Sectors E and G”). I personally like
Sector G (to the North) because it has access to San Jose de la Montana Seminary, where all
the priests will go, and to the Divine Providence Hospital where Archbishop
Romero lived and died, further afield.
A final
assumption: you’re not really all that interested in the Church’s massive
Romero fest, but you want to say you were there for the historic event. You just want to check it out. In that case, “Sector B” might be for
you. This is the western-most run of
Paseo General Escalon, heading up towards the San Salvador volcano. This is the only part of the grid that
organizers have labeled in green with respect to crowding—it will be pretty
sparse. You will be behind the
beatification ceremony (the altar will be facing east), but you can still watch
on the giant television screens found here, as well. When it comes time to go, or if you decide to
check out early, it should not be difficult to get out from this way, but you
will be further from everything.
Final tips,
check out the maps, and pick your spot now. (Detailed diagrams are also found on the Beatification’s Flickr photostream.) It may be difficult to find assistance on the
appointed day. Businesses will be
closed, as San Salvador residents will have a paid day off on Friday and
Saturday; while all Salvadorans will be off from work on Saturday, the day of
the event.
In the
meantime, we will continue to monitor developments and provide a Thursday
update regarding the ongoing beatification plans. Well, there is only one left ...
Previous reports:
No. 1 Theologians
voted, now what?
No. 2 Meet
Card. Amato and Archb. Paglia
No. 3 Preview
of Romero Week in London
No. 4 After
decree signed, site selected
No. 5 Salvadoran
Church-State coordinators
No. 6 The
beatification date I preferred
No. 7 Confirmation
of the site
No. 8 Why
Salvador del Mundo was chosen
No. 9 Online
information sources
|
No. 10 March
24—35th anniversary preview
No. 11 A
dress rehearsal for the ceremony
No. 12 “Memo
to Journalists”
No. 13 Services
and information for visitors
No. 14 Reasons
to go to the beatification
No. 15 Ceremony
planning and schedule
No.
16 Attendance
No. 17 You are here!
No. 18 How to watch the beatification remotely
|
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