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.
