Bishop to offer bilingual Mass, present relic of St. Oscar Romero, March 21, 2026, in Cathedral
Bishop Ralph B. O’Donnell will celebrate a special bilingual Mass in the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Jefferson City on Saturday, March 21, 2026, during which he will present to Father Stephen Jones, pastor, a recently acquired first-class relic of St. Oscar Romero, a beloved archbishop of San Salvador, El Salvador, who was martyred in 1980 during that nation’s civil war.
All are invited to attend the Mass, which will include veneration of the relic and the calling-upon of St. Oscar Romero’s intercession, as well as time for Confessions and a reception with food, music and traditional Hispanic dancing.
The relic will be available for veneration from 9 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 3 p.m.
Confessions will be available at 10 a.m., during which time a presentation will also be given about St. Oscar Romero’s life and relics.
The Mass will begin at 11 a.m.
“I’m looking forward to honoring in a meaningful way this prophetic and kindhearted saint,” said Bishop O’Donnell, who since his seminary days has developed a personal devotion to St. Oscar Romero.
“His conversion of compassion for the poor and downtrodden is an inspiration to all of us,” he said.
Pope Francis canonized St. Oscar Romero in 2018. His feastday is March 24.
