“I never saw grits until I moved here, but then I discovered shrimp and grits, which I have to say has converted me,” says Fr. Salmi, who came to Spring Hill from Loyola University Chicago. “One of the things I love about the south is just how warm and friendly people are. The city has been so welcoming.”

Fr. Salmi, originally from Cleveland, first became interested in the Jesuits at Ohio University.

“My freshman year in college was the year of the Kent State killings and the Vietnam War protests, and so it was a turbulent time for America. I had a Jesuit as an instructor at this big state school. I looked at the Jesuits and saw all the good works they were doing all over the place. I was going to save the world and certainly the Jesuits were going to help me do it,” he recalls.

Fr. Salmi made a weeklong retreat with the Jesuits to discern whether he should become a priest or join the Peace Corps. He chose the Jesuits. “ I like the idea that as a Jesuit you could be a doctor or a lawyer. You could have a profession in addition to being a priest,” Fr. Salmi says.

“Social justice has always been at the core of what we are about, and we’ve always been on the cutting edge in the cusp of justice issues,” says Fr. Salmi.

Looking toward the future for Spring Hill, Fr. Salmi says the institution needs to look at “what we are doing to enable Hispanics to come to Spring Hill and how are we going to speak out for the undocumented folks and how do we stand for the Dream Act.”

Watch the full feature on Fr. Salmi below.

The Interview: Fr. Richard Salmi

Interviewing five Jesuits at the college–Jesuit Fathers Chris Viscardi, Marvin Kitten, Richard Salmi, Stephen Campbell and Michael Williams–the video highlights their service to Spring Hill through their varied professions of theology teacher to campus minister, president of the school to theater director. The common themes of diversity, uniqueness and individuality resonate through the interviews. But for all these Jesuits, forming and creating not only well-educated college graduates but, more importantly, men and women in service to others for the greater glory of God is their ultimate goal and purpose.

In this video, the men talk about what motivates them as individuals and what being a Jesuit means to them.

To mark the 20th anniversary of their murders, the U.S. House of Representatives passed House Resolution 761, “Remembering and commemorating the lives and work of (the Jesuit Fathers, their housekeeper and her daughter) on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of their deaths at the University of Central America Jose Simeon Canas in San Salvador, El Salvador.” The resolution was sponsored by Rep. James McGovern (D) of Massachusetts.

Killed in the attack were Ignacio Ellacuria, S.J., 59; Amando Lopez, S.J., 53; Joaquin Lopez y Lopez, S.J., 71; Ignacio Martín-Baró, S.J., 50; Juan Ramon Moreno, S.J., 56; Segundo Montes, S.J., 56; Julia Elba Ramos, 42, the housekeeper of the Jesuit residence, and her daughter Cecilia Ramos, 15.

In remembrance of those who lost their lives, various Jesuit apostolates, including colleges, universities and parishes, are commemorating November 16th, 2009 with memorials, Masses and religious services. A list of institutions participating appear below with events listed if available. Please check back regularly as this list is ever growing.

Xavier University:
http://www.xavier.edu/news/Xavier-commemorates-the-20th-anniversary-of-six-Jesuit-priests-martyred-in-El-Salvador.cfm

• Saturday, Nov. 14, at 7:00 p.m. in Bellarmine Chapel: A live feed from El Salvador allowing viewers to see the procession and vigil in San Salvador in remembrance of the Jesuit martyrs.
• Sunday, Nov. 15, at 4:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.: Student Masses in Bellarmine Chape with Mass petitions for the Jesuit martyrs in El Salvador.
• Monday, Nov. 16, from 1:15 p.m.-3:30 p.m. on Xavier’s Academic Mall: Human display of martyred Jesuits.
• Monday, Nov. 16, at 8:00 p.m. in Room 330 of the Gallagher Student Center: Showing of the film “Question of Conscience” to learn more about the six Jesuits and what they died for.
• Tuesday, Nov. 17, at 7:30 p.m. in Kelley Auditorium in Xavier’s Alter Hall: Brian Derouen discusses his act of civil disobedience crossing the line at the School of the Americas and how it has affected his life.
• Thursday, Nov. 19, at 8:30 p.m. in Bellarmine Chapel: Solemn procession and reflective vigil. Those traveling to Georgia for the annual School of the America’s protest from Nov. 20-Nov. 22 are meeting at Xavier’s Brueggeman Center and processing to Bellarmine Chapel in remembrance and to reflect on their role in this struggle.

Fordham University:
http://www.fordham.edu/Campus_Resources/eNewsroom/topstories_1711.asp

University of San Francisco:
http://www.usfca.edu/usfnews/news_stories/Stand4Conference.html

The Stand 4 Conference, with events scheduled from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., will provide a forum to discuss issues of justice, workshops, and a candlelight vigil on Monday, November 16, 2009.
•    9 a.m. – A Reflection on Ignatian Spirituality, Jesuit education, and the martyrs of UCA. (Maraschi Room, Fromm Hall)
•    10:30 a.m. – Mass of Commemoration by Fr. Privett (St. Ignatius Church)
•    12:30 p.m. – Keynote speaker Kevin Burke, S.J., academic dean and acting president of the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, and author of The Ground Beneath the Cross: The Theology of Ignacio Ellacuria. (St. Ignatius Church)
•    1:45 p.m. – Workshops: A series of workshops on lobbying, advocacy, civil rights, and litigation presented by the Leo T. McCarthy Center for Public Service and the Common Good, the Central American Resource Center, and the Center for Justice and Accountability. (McLaren Complex)
•    6:00 p.m. – Candlelight Vigil: Procession from St. Ignatius Church to Lone Mountain.

Creighton University:
http://www.creighton.edu/publicrelations/newscenter/news/2009/november2009/november122009/martyrsnr111209/index.php

On Monday, Nov. 16, Creighton University, along with Jesuits and the world-wide Catholic community,will commemorate the 20th anniversary of the assassination of six Jesuits, their housekeeper and her daughter in El Salvador. A special 5 p.m. bilingual Mass will be held at St. John’s Church on Creighton’s campus.
On Saturday, Nov. 14, at 4 p.m., students will construct a Martyrs Memorial on the church steps that will include visual displays honoring the victims and their commitment to faith. The memorial will be available for viewing over the weekend through Monday, Nov. 16.

Boston College:
http://www.bc.edu/offices/pubaf/news/Jesuit_Murders_Anniversary20091028.html

Wednesday, Nov. 4, 7 p.m., Gasson 100: Boston College Chancellor J. Donald Monan, SJ will moderate a program titled “Living Legacies: the 20th Anniversary of the Martyrs of El Salvador.” The panel will include Rodolfo Cardenal, SJ, former vice rector at the University of Central America who lived with the six Jesuits; Elizabeth Lira, a faculty member and director of the Centro de Etica at Universidad Alberto Hurtado in Santiago, Chile; and US Rep. James McGovern (D-Mass.), who as an aide to the late US Rep. Joseph Moakley (D-Mass.) was instrumental in reshaping American policy toward the nation where the murders occurred.

Monday, Nov. 30, 4:30 p.m., Robsham Theater: Fr. Monan will moderate a discussion with historian Noam Chomsky and University of Central America co-founder Jon Sobrino, SJ — who was away from the Jesuit residence the night of the murders — titled “Memory and Its Strength: The Martyrs of El Salvador.”

Loyola New Orleans:
http://www.loyno.edu/news/story/2009/11/13/1970

•    Martyr’s Mass, Sunday, Nov. 15, 9 p.m., Ignatius Chapel in Bobet Hall.
•    General LUCAP Meeting, Monday, Nov. 16, 5– 6 p.m., Magis Lounge, with torture survivor Carlos Maurico and friends, who will speak about their experiences and the School of the Americas peace vigil caravan, Journey for Justice.
•    “Refugees and Asylum Seekers: Human Rights and Catholic Social Teaching” lecture, Danna Student Center St. Charles Room, 7:30 p.m., with Katrine Camilleri, Ph.D., assistant director, Jesuit Refugee Services, Malta.
•    “Romero” film screening, Wednesday, Nov. 18, 7 p.m., Magis Lounge.
•    Prayer Service for Peace, Thursday, Nov. 19, 5:30 p.m., Peace Quad.

Holy Cross:
http://www.holycross.edu/publicaffairs/features/2009-2010/el_salvador_anniversary

“Twenty Years Later: A Reflection on Holy Cross in Light of the University of Central America Martyrs” on Monday, Nov. 16 at 7:30 p.m. in Rehm Library.

Seattle University:
http://seattleu.edu/events/detail.asp?sID=26800

The greater Seattle University community, including alumni, students, faculty, staff and the public, is invited to this event to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the tragic murders of six Jesuit priests and two women at the University of Central America in El Salvador. Please be sure to join us in this very special commemorative event.�
When: Monday, November 16, 2009  (7 PM – 9 PM)
Where: Student Center
(LeRoux Room and Chapel of St. Ignatius)

University of Scranton:
http://matrix.scranton.edu/news/elsalvador/index.shtml
Banners commemorate Jesuit Martyrs: http://matrix.scranton.edu/news/articles/2009/11/Banners-Commemorate-Jesuit-Martyrs.shtml

Spring Hill College:
http://www.shc.edu/news-and-events/news/2009/november-2009/spring-hill-college-to-commemorate-20th-anniversary-of-jesuit-martyrs

Rev. Ted Arroyo, S.J., rector of the Jesuit community, will present “Reflections on the Martyrs of El Salvador” at a Table Talk luncheon on Wednesday, Nov. 11.
The student liturgy at 9 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15 will remember the 20th anniversary of the Jesuit martyrs. The Mass will commission students, faculty and staff to participate in the Ignatian Family Teach-In in Columbus, Ga., Nov. 20-22.

LeMoyne College:
http://www.lemoyne.edu/JESUITHERITAGE/tabid/482/Default.aspx

Grewen Hall at Le Moyne College in Syracuse, New York
Monday November 16 2009, 5-6 p.m.
 All are welcome at a candle vigil at dusk and brief ceremony to be held in solidarity with the Society of Jesus and the UCA-JSC, as we mark the 20th anniversary of the massacre in El Salvador and commemorate all who give their lives in the long struggle for justice. 

Gesu Parish Detroit:
(in partnership with their SHARE Sister Community) will be have a commemoration of the 20th anniversary on November 16th at 7:00pm;  A recollection will be offered by Bishop Tom Gumbleton.

Jesuit Father Richard P. Salmi, SJ, the new president of Spring Hill College in Mobile, Ala. sat down with the local Press – Register newpaper to discuss the school’s financial future. Salmi became the school’s 38th president on June 1st. He was previously vice president of student affairs at Loyola University in Chicago. Spring Hill College is the oldest Catholic college in the Southeast, the third oldest Jesuit college and the fifth oldest Catholic college in the United States. Ranked among the top 15 Southern colleges and universities in U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges,” its mission is to form students to become responsible leaders in service to others.

Go here to read the Q&A with Fr. Salmi and watch the video interview below.