Our History and Mission
Our History
Romero Center Ministries was founded on March 24, 1998, on the 18th anniversary of the martyrdom of Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador. St. Joseph Pro-Cathedral parish came into possession of a large former convent on its campus and had a vision for an urban retreat center that would ground people in Jesus’ call to serve the poor among us.
Romero Center Ministries began with the intention of bringing the Church community to Camden to experience an enlightened conversion and commitment. We wanted young people to see that there is both opportunity and challenge in the work of the Church. We wanted adults to understand their role in bringing about a societal commitment to end poverty and discrimination in our world.
From the very beginning we’ve told participants that the most important thing that will happen on these experiences is not what they will do for others, but what others will do for them.
“We learn to see the face of Christ – the face of Christ that also is the face of a suffering human being, the face of the crucified, the face of the poor, the face of a saint, and the face of every person – and we love each one with the criteria with which we will be judged: ‘I was hungry, and you gave me to eat,’”
- Oscar Romero, Reflections on His Life
Mission Statement Prayer
Good and Gracious God,
Based in Camden, NJ, we live, work, minister and love through you, in you, and with you.
We are called, called by name, called by the name of Romero Center Ministries to bear fruit, fruit that will last.
You have given us the space, the life, the foundation, the opportunity to provide Catholic education and retreat experiences, experiences that change, challenge, comfort and transform.
We lean on the inspiration of your servant Saint Oscar Romero’s prophetic witness and ask you, O Loving God, to hear us when we say Romero’s words, “I can’t. You must. I’m yours. Show me the way…”
So that we may seek personal transformation within ourselves, open to give, to listen, and to receive with our best selves, our most Christ-like selves, ready for growth and newness.
We seek communal transformation, so that we may be catalysts and servants, building the kingdom of God here among new and familiar groups…
And we pray for those groups to leave here empowered by your spirit, and that we too may be renewed in seeking societal transformation where equality, dignity, and peace are truth.
By living ministry, to every person we meet, those sick and healthy, open and closed, rich and poor, beautiful and broken…
We aim to model you, O God, as creators, potters, and shepherds, who love and guide…
And we ask your guidance, your fire, to blaze in our hearts as we love without distinction as proclaimed in Christ’s Gospel.
We praise you for the gift of this day and the gift of this place, for the gift of each breathing, living, growing person here…
We ask your blessing today and always, over us here and all our neighbors.
We ask this with love and hope in your name.
Amen.
We can’t do it without you
Romero Center Ministries relies on supporters like you to ensure that we remain a place that invites “actions on behalf of justice and participation in the transformation of the world.” (U.S. Catholic Bishops, 1971).
All donations to Romero Center Ministries are fully tax-deductible.
You may also mail donations payable to Romero Center Ministries to:
St. Joseph Pro-Cathedral
Romero Center Ministries
2907 Federal Street
Camden, NJ 08105