“The shepherd cannot run.”

Father Stanley Rother was recognized in 2017 as the first U.S. born martyr.

He was born in Okarche, Oklahoma in 1935 on a farm and worked hard completing his required chores, schoolwork, sports, and as altar server. While in high school, he was accepted and sent to the Assumption Seminary in San Antonio, Texas and was ordained a priest in 1963.

He sought and received permission to join the staff at the Oklahoma diocese’s mission in Santiago Atitlan, Guatemala. He served the native tribe of the Tz’utujil and although he struggled with Latin in school, he quickly picked up their language. He celebrated mass in their language and translated the New Testament for them.

He was surrounded by extreme poverty and he ministered to them in their homes while even putting his farming skills to use by helping in the fields, bringing in different crops and building an irrigation system.

The area was suffering a civil war between the militarist government forces and the guerrillas. The Catholic Church was caught in the middle because it was catechizing and educating the people. During this conflict, thousands of Catholics were killed and Father Rother’s name appeared on a death list.

He returned to Oklahoma but did not stay long as he was determined to give his life completely to his people.

Within a few months, 3 men entered the rectory around 1 am on July 28, 1981 and executed him. His death shocked the Catholic world and no one was held responsible as the people of Santiago Atitlan mourned the loss of their leader and friend. They requested his heart be kept in Guatemala where it remains enshrined today.

His beatification drew a crowd of 15,000 in Oklahoma City and now many celebrate his feast day on July 28.

For God’s Glory.