Costa Rica - Commemorated awarding of title of "Honorary Citizen" to Protector of poor and sick: Sr. Maria Romero Meneses, FMA

09 July 2019
Costa Rica - Commemorated awarding of title of "Honorary Citizen" to Protector of poor and sick: Sr. Maria Romero Meneses, FMA

(ANS - San José) - It was May 29, 1989, when Sister Maria Romero Meneses, Daughter of Mary Help of Christians, was given, posthumously, the title of honorary citizen of Costa Rica, because of her exceptional services rendered to the Republic by the religious. To celebrate this honorary citizen, great FMA and blessed of the Catholic Church, last Sunday, 7 July, the city of San José held a large procession, which gathered thousands of faithful around her relics, in memory of this nun who spent 46 years of her life in the country at the service of the poor and the needy.

Sister Romero Meneses was the first woman to obtain honorary citizenship of Costa Rica. The Archbishop of San José, Msgr. José Rafael Quirós, said of her: “We recognize the remarkable services rendered to the Homeland by this Nicaraguan nun who, with love and solidarity, spent her life for the poorest. Sister Mary was a gift of God for Costa Rican society and for the universal Church which, in its supreme authority, recognized its Christian and heroic virtues."

In the thirtieth anniversary of the conferral of citizenship, the Association of former Parliamentarians and Parliamentarians of Costa Rica coordinated a "Round Table on Sr. Maria Romero Meneses" in the Hall of Former Presidents of the Republic of Parliament. Representatives of deputies and former MPs, Representatives of the Apostolic Nuncio and the Archbishop participated; as did different associations and religious groups, the Salesian Family, Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, diocesan and religious priests.

The reports were attended by Mr. Alejandro Soto Zúñiga and Alex Solís Fallas, who mentioned the historical process of granting citizenship, with due recognition for Sister Romero. For Mr. Fallas, promoter of this initiative, this round table took on a double meaning, since besides being one of the deputies who voted for Sr. Romero Meneses, is also the father of the girl who benefited from the miracle for which the FMA was beatified.

María Romero Meneses was born on January 13, 1902, in Nicaragua, in Granada, to a family of deep faith. In 1910 the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians arrived in Nicaragua, entered the "Mary Help of Christians" School of the FMA and made her First Communion. Since then she felt that Jesus was with her and that He would never have abandoned her. She died on 7 July 1977.

"A humble religious of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians she founded wonderful social works in Costa Rica, her second home. Her fame crossed the borders of Central America, the United States and South America. And it was a reputation for holiness," Sr. M.D. Grassiano, FMA, wrote of her. She was declared Venerable by Pope John Paul II on 18 December 2000 and beatified April 14, 2002.

View the embedded image gallery online at:
https://www.infoans.org/en/component/k2/item/8364#sigProIdee93c2ef38
 

Flickr

InfoANS

ANS - “Agenzia iNfo Salesiana” is a on-line almost daily publication, the communication agency of the Salesian Congregation enrolled in the Press Register of the Tibunal of Rome as n 153/2007.

This site also uses third-party cookies to improve user experience and for statistical purposes. By scrolling through this page or by clicking on any of its elements, you consent to the use of cookies. To learn more or to opt out, click "Further Information".

Further Information