This shy priest was born in Spain August 29, 1933. Fr. Juan Ramón taught many subjects at both the high school and university level including biology, history, civics, math, English, and geography. One of his major contributions to the University of Central America was his work in the library updating the cataloging system and the archives. These two elements inspire the background of the painting which is composed of abstract books. Fr. Juan Ramón was also given the honor and responsibility of being a novice master, the priest who guides new Jesuits in their first years of formation. When he preached about liberation theology and evangelization at retreats and in front of various audiences, he was said to catch fire. For this reason, Fr. Juan Ramón is painted in orange.
“It will be beneficial to have a faithful and competent person to instruct and teach the novices how to conduct themselves inwardly and outwardly, to encourage them to this, to remind them of it, and to give them loving admonition; a person whom all those who are in probation may love and to whom they may have recourse in their temptations and open themselves with confidence, hoping to receive from him in our Lord counsel and aid in everything.” --Jesuit Spiritual Exercises
“We sometimes talk of leaving also. But our hope is not in leaving, it is here. If I leave, the crisis will stay. Here I may be able to effect change.” –Fr. Amando López S.J.
“How can we be really free if our brothers and sisters are not free? This is my country and these people are my people. We here are not just teachers and social scientists. We are also parish priests, and the people need to have the church stay with them in these terrible times—the rich as well as the poor. The rich need to hear from us, just as do the poor. God’s grace does not leave, so neither can we.” --Fr. Segundo Montes, S.J.
“There is an aspect of war that is of great importance and should be analyzed by social psychology: its way of defining all that is social…. But this same absorbing quality of the war can lead to ignoring the different ways in which it affects groups and individuals: what represents ruin for some becomes big business for others, and what places some close to death opens for others the possibility of new life.”—Fr. Martin-Baró, S.J.
“So telling the truth becomes an unmasking of lies, and that is not forgiven.”
“Telling the truth, communicating it in a way appropriate to a university…has always been dangerous because the idols seek to hide their true face.”—Fr. Jon Sobrino, S.J.
“The Spirit breathes in many ways, and supreme among them is the disposition to give one’s life for others, whether by tireless daily commitment or by the sacrifice of a violent death.” –Fr. Ignacio Ellacuría, S.J.