By Erin L. Nappe
Western New York Catholic Reporter

The Central American city of San Salvador has long been a place of violent political unrest. Twenty-four years ago, the political climate led to the murder of a beloved Church leader.

That leader, Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador, is one of the subjects of Daybreak TV Productions’ new documentary on the making of a saint. Videographer John Epolito and editor Mason Winterhalter recently traveled to San Salvador to interview subjects and collect footage for the documentary.

Winterhalter said they experienced a bit of culture shock upon arrival. "Immediately when we arrived at the airport, there were guards with machine guns waiting," he said.

Because it was election time in El Salvador, security was at its highest level. Epolito, who was carrying a camera, was questioned by the guards. When the guards were convinced that Epolito and Winterhalter were not there to report on the election, they were allowed to proceed.

On the way from the airport into the city, they saw 20 to 30 tractor trailers with flatbeds piled with sugarcane. Lining the streets were many shacks or huts selling produce. In the city, they saw armed guards, barbed wire and bars on the windows of the buildings, all evidence that the peace in El Salvador is an uneasy one.

The trip coincided with the 24th anniversary of Archbishop Romero’s death on March 24, 1980.

Described as a "revolutionary advocate for the dispossessed and repressed," the archbishop was seen as a threat to the interests of some of the country’s leaders. He spoke out against the Salvadoran army’s human rights abuses, and was accused of attempting to use the Church to undermine the government.

He was shot in the heart while celebrating Mass, as the entire congregation looked on.

During Archbishop Romero’s funeral, army snipers opened fire on the crowd gathered outside the San Salvador Cathedral. Dozens of people were killed. For many, these events marked the real beginning of civil war in El Salvador.

Epolito and Winterhalter stayed in San Salvador for seven days, conducting four interviews and videotaping two Masses, a rally at Archbishop Romero’s tomb and a procession in his honor. They also visited and videographed at the archbishop’s home, which has become a shrine of sorts.

Everywhere they went, Epolito and Winterhalter witnessed an incredible outpouring of emotion. People wore headbands printed with Romero’s name and T-shirts bearing his image. They chanted, sang, waved flowers and palms. They carried posters and banners in his honor. The footage collected shows captivating images of the people of San Salvador celebrating the archbishop’s life.

"He’s definitely a saint to the people there," Epolito said.

This particular project came about in a unique way. According to Claire Rung, executive producer for Daybreak TV, the documentary process usually begins with an idea from within. Then, funding sources are explored.

"In this case, the funding source came to us," Rung said.

The request came while Daybreak was working on its last documentary, the award-winning "Legacy of Victory: Remembering Father Baker." It is being produced with a $100,000 grant from a foundation which requested to remain anonymous.

Work began on the saint documentary last spring. Rung said the project should be completed within the next year. When finished, it will be distributed nationally. Rung said this will be a "big challenge," but it is a wide enough topic to appeal to a national audience. Distribution will be pursued through the Catholic Communication Campaign, PBS, and most likely the History and Biography channels.

"The Making of a Saint" profiles four subjects, Archbishop Oscar Romero, Msgr. Nelson Baker, Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. Also highlighted are the eight North American martyrs, six Jesuit priests and two laypeople killed by Native Americans who were opposed to their mission of bringing Christianity to the "new world."

For each person being highlighted in the documentary, there has been an "expert" to interview. A crew has gone to videotape the areas where the person lived and worked for background, usually being able to be there on their feast day or celebration.

While in San Salvador, Epolito and Winterhalter interviewed people who had worked closely with Archbishop Romero. A translator, Eugenio Palumbo, assisted with most of the interviews. Epolito said most of the priests did speak English but preferred to do the interviews in Spanish.

"The people were very friendly, even though our Spanish wasn’t great," Winterhalter said.

Those interviewed for the documentary spoke of Archbishop Romero’s character and humility.

A driver named Victor Tobar helped Epolito and Winterhalter navigate the city and learn more about their subject.

"Without him, we’d probably have never left the hotel," Epolito said.

Tobar had been a videographer for Reuters, and showed them some footage of Romero before he died. He also showed them some film of nuns cleaning blood from the floor of the altar where Romero was killed.

Rung said Daybreak’s number one goal for the next year is to complete the documentary project. New producer Michele Barone has stepped in to take over the project.

Daybreak is also producing a half hour historical piece on St. Joseph’s Cathedral, which will be completed in time for the cathedral’s anniversary celebration next August. That project is being funded by a grant from the Vincent and Harriet Palisano Foundation. Rung would also like to continue building Daybreak’s Web site as a communications tool.

Past documentaries produced by Daybreak have been a tremendous success and Rung hopes that this new project will continue in that tradition.

"Work that comes out of Daybreak is being seen nationally, which tightens the Catholic community on a national level," Rung said. "It helps bring the Buffalo area to light, and spread the ‘City of Good Neighbors’ even further."