Immersion

Who is Saint Oscar Romero?

Saint Oscar Arnulfo Romero was the Archbishop of El Salvador martyred in 1980 for his advocacy on behalf of the poor and powerless. Encountering the reality of poverty and injustice transformed Romero into a powerful agent for social justice. His life and witness to peace inspires every Romero Immersion Program.

The Romero Immersion Program is designed to:

• form hearts that long for justice;
• encounter the people of God in our local communities in intentional and meaningful ways;
• recognize the complexities of current social issues;
• develop critical skills for social analysis;
• cultivate a justice-oriented spirituality;
• cultivate an enduring commitment to social justice and advocacy;
• develop tools for vocational discernment grounded in faith and justice;
• encourage participants to practice a faith that does justice.

What inspires our Romero Immersion Programs?

• The values and demands in the Gospels where, through the person of Jesus Christ, we encounter God's vision of compassionate justice and preferential option for the poor and vulnerable. Throughout Scripture, God takes the side of the oppressed and is deeply concerned with those who are most marginalized. God's special love for the outcast — "the widow, the orphan, the stranger" — is radically revealed in the life of Jesus Christ.
• The tradition of Catholic Social Thought (CST) that presents a vision of society that is transformative, radical, and challenging – a structure that, if implemented, would make visible the reign of God. CST strives to foster a living faith that leads to loving action and calls us to live out the principles of human dignity, solidarity, the common good, and a preferential option for the poor and vulnerable.
• The mission statement of the University of San Diego, which hopes to create a more inclusive, sustainable, and hopeful world. Upholding these values encourages students to foster peace, work for justice, and lead with love.

What are the four core values of the Romero Immersion Program?

“In the present condition of global society, where injustices abound and growing numbers of people are deprived of basic human rights and considered expendable, the principle of the common good immediately becomes, logically and inevitably, a summons to solidarity and a preferential option for the poorest of our brothers and sisters.” - Pope Francis, Laudato Si

• Human Dignity: The belief that every person is made in the image and likeness of God. Because of this, every person has inherent worth and transcendent dignity that can never be taken away. It is our duty to recognize this reality in ourselves and in others.
• Solidarity: The principle of solidarity reminds us that we belong to each other. It is built upon the idea that we have a shared dignity. It is because of this that we work together to allow that dignity to be fully realized. As an Aboriginal Activist Group in Australia said, “If you have come here to help me you are wasting your time, but if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.”
• Common Good: The principle of the common good reminds us that we are responsible for uplifting the dignity of all. It is because of this that we must work to create social conditions which ensure that everyone’s common human dignity is upheld.
• Preferential Option for the Poor and Vulnerable: By following the example of Jesus, we are required to make an option for the poor and vulnerable. It is through this that we give a voice to the voiceless to assess how our personal decisions and our social structures impact the poor. As the USCCB said in Economic Justice for All, “As Christians, we are called to respond to the needs of all our brothers and sisters, but those with the greatest needs require the greatest response.”

What does a Romero Immersion Program look like?

• Pre-departure meetings to prepare for the experience by developing relationships within the group, learning about the community to be visited, being formed in Catholic social teaching, having intentional conversations around faith and justice, and reflecting on your hopes for the experience.
• Participating in the immersion experience, which includes being in an intentional relationship with our close community partners, building community, and having ongoing and intentional reflection and prayer.
• If appropriate and possible, practical service activities designed to foster interaction with the community visited as well as to allow a fuller understanding of the community's reality.
• Post-trip reflection meetings designed to help you integrate the experience into your life by examining your role in the world and discerning your contribution to the common good.

Is there a cost?

The approximate cost of a Romero Immersion ranges, but always includes travel expenses, insurance, meals, lodging, transportation, contributions to our partner agencies, and other materials.

While we understand that these experiences do incur a significant financial cost, we never want anyone to be deterred from participating because of financial need. Because of this, financial assistance is available. When accepted to the immersion, a request for financial assistance form is sent. From there, students can ask for 100% or 50% of the costs to be covered. Any amount requested is honored, no questions asked.