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Page 16 August 2015 The Catoctin Banner Newspaper www.TheCatoctinBanner.com Published by www.EPlusPromotes.com
Mount St. Mary’s Seminary Alum is One Step Closer to Sainthood
From Mount Saint Mary’s University
More than thirty years after his credit union, weaver’s cooperative, Rother’s father Courtesy Photo
assassination, Rev. Stanley Rother, a health clinic, a Tz’utujil-language remembers that while
S’63, was formally recognized as radio station, and a school. By 1974, at home, he would
a martyr by a special Theological all of the dozen missionaries returned stare out a window
Commission at the Congregation of to Oklahoma with exception of and say, “I’m going
the Causes of Saints in Rome. Father Rother. back. I can’t leave my
This recognition brings his case Father Rother stayed to continue people like that.”
for sainthood one step closer to the development of these programs and Father Rother
canonization. to build stronger social organizations understood the risk
Father Rother graduated from within the indigenous community. of returning, but
Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in The radio station broadcasted he’d made it clear
1963, when he was ordained for educational and literacy programs, that he’d invested his
the priesthood in the Archdiocese and cooperatives offered economic entire life in Santiago
of Oklahoma. In 1968, he joined opportunities to artisans and Atitlán. These were
a group of Catholic missionaries agricultural workers. Father Rother his people and he
heading to Guatemala to work with worked hard physically to aid in these deeply felt they
the Tzutuhils, an indigenous people projects, often running a bulldozer needed him more than ever—no In 2007, the Catholic Church
suffering from extreme poverty. In from sunup to sundown in addition to matter the cost. in Oklahoma began the process
the summer of 1981, he was slain fulfilling his duties as a priest. After his murder at the hands of elevating Father Rother to the
in the church’s rectory by three The military arrived in Santiago of the Guatemalan right-wing sainthood for his martyrdom.
men believed to be members of an Atitlán in July 1980. Patrolling government, thousands gathered in The Catholic Church requires
extremist death squad associated groups of three to four soldiers the main square to mourn his death. four steps to canonization, or
with the corrupt Guatemalan with submachine guns terrorized When his body was to be taken back sainthood. A rigorous investigation
government. the townspeople, many of whom to Oklahoma for burial, they pleaded begins to ensure the individual is a
“Father Rother laid down his had never seen guns. These armed to keep his heart, which was removed true “servant of Christ” and lived
life for Christ and for the people of soldiers pressed the people for during the autopsy and buried in an extraordinary life of servitude.
his parish in Guatemala, whom he information about their community Santiago Atitlán. The bloody conflict Second, the argument is made by
dearly loved. It is very encouraging leaders. The radio station, Voice of in Guatemala officially ended in a church official with documented
to move one step closer to a formal Atitlán, which was broadcast in the 1990, claiming the lives of hundreds instances to the Congregation for
recognition by the Church of Father Tzu’tujil language, was targeted in of thousands, perhaps millions of the Causes of Saints in Rome. Once
Rother’s heroic life and death as late 1980. Its director was murdered civilians, mostly the indigenous poor. approved, the person is classified as
a martyr for the Gospel,” said the and much of the equipment stolen. “Fr. Stanley Rother is an “venerable.”
Most Rev. Paul S. Coakley, S’83, Several people in the community inspiration and model of selfless The third step includes
Archbishop of the Archdiocese of disappeared. During this time, Father love in his life lived for others. As a beatification, whereby the
Oklahoma City. Rother often reclaimed the corpses graduate of the seminary at Mount Theological Commission recognizes
The tiny Guatemalan town of of his friends from creek beds to give St. Mary’s, he served others in the the candidate as “blessed” through
Santiago Atitlán was among the them proper burials. day to day life of his parishioners in their heroic acts of virtue or, in
poorest places in Central America. By July 1981, eight priests had Guatemala as a missionary. Even Rev. Rother’s case, his assassination
Men earned .25 to .70 cents a day been killed or kidnapped. After 16 amidst danger and threats to his life, classifies him as a martyr.
for hard agricultural labor. More people in the town were massacred he spoke out against injustices and The final step is canonization
than half of all children died before soon after, Father Rother learned heroically served his people. His life and occurs when a miracle can be
the age of six. Responding to Pope that he too was on a death list. He will inspire both graduates of Mount documented as occurring after the
John XXIII’s request, Catholic returned to the United States for his St. Mary’s University and people person is recognized as “blessed,”
missionaries from Oklahoma arrived safety, but being away from Santiago everywhere,” said Fr. Brian Nolan, and received through the candidate’s
in 1964. They helped to establish a Atitlan was agonizing. Father university chaplain. intercession.
BOLLINGER HOMES, LLC Your Good News Community Newspaper
BOLLINGER HOMES, LLC
www.thecatoctinbanner.com
We specialize in... Custom Home Builder & Remodeler Serving Northern Frederick County, Maryland, Since 1995
• Additions
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Phone 301.447.6917 Strafford H. Lawyer II, Owner
Fax 301.447.2704
301-271-2736
1 Creamery Way 13910-B Jimtown Road
Emmitsburg, MD 21727 Thurmont, MD 21788
Mount St. Mary’s Seminary Alum is One Step Closer to Sainthood
From Mount Saint Mary’s University
More than thirty years after his credit union, weaver’s cooperative, Rother’s father Courtesy Photo
assassination, Rev. Stanley Rother, a health clinic, a Tz’utujil-language remembers that while
S’63, was formally recognized as radio station, and a school. By 1974, at home, he would
a martyr by a special Theological all of the dozen missionaries returned stare out a window
Commission at the Congregation of to Oklahoma with exception of and say, “I’m going
the Causes of Saints in Rome. Father Rother. back. I can’t leave my
This recognition brings his case Father Rother stayed to continue people like that.”
for sainthood one step closer to the development of these programs and Father Rother
canonization. to build stronger social organizations understood the risk
Father Rother graduated from within the indigenous community. of returning, but
Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in The radio station broadcasted he’d made it clear
1963, when he was ordained for educational and literacy programs, that he’d invested his
the priesthood in the Archdiocese and cooperatives offered economic entire life in Santiago
of Oklahoma. In 1968, he joined opportunities to artisans and Atitlán. These were
a group of Catholic missionaries agricultural workers. Father Rother his people and he
heading to Guatemala to work with worked hard physically to aid in these deeply felt they
the Tzutuhils, an indigenous people projects, often running a bulldozer needed him more than ever—no In 2007, the Catholic Church
suffering from extreme poverty. In from sunup to sundown in addition to matter the cost. in Oklahoma began the process
the summer of 1981, he was slain fulfilling his duties as a priest. After his murder at the hands of elevating Father Rother to the
in the church’s rectory by three The military arrived in Santiago of the Guatemalan right-wing sainthood for his martyrdom.
men believed to be members of an Atitlán in July 1980. Patrolling government, thousands gathered in The Catholic Church requires
extremist death squad associated groups of three to four soldiers the main square to mourn his death. four steps to canonization, or
with the corrupt Guatemalan with submachine guns terrorized When his body was to be taken back sainthood. A rigorous investigation
government. the townspeople, many of whom to Oklahoma for burial, they pleaded begins to ensure the individual is a
“Father Rother laid down his had never seen guns. These armed to keep his heart, which was removed true “servant of Christ” and lived
life for Christ and for the people of soldiers pressed the people for during the autopsy and buried in an extraordinary life of servitude.
his parish in Guatemala, whom he information about their community Santiago Atitlán. The bloody conflict Second, the argument is made by
dearly loved. It is very encouraging leaders. The radio station, Voice of in Guatemala officially ended in a church official with documented
to move one step closer to a formal Atitlán, which was broadcast in the 1990, claiming the lives of hundreds instances to the Congregation for
recognition by the Church of Father Tzu’tujil language, was targeted in of thousands, perhaps millions of the Causes of Saints in Rome. Once
Rother’s heroic life and death as late 1980. Its director was murdered civilians, mostly the indigenous poor. approved, the person is classified as
a martyr for the Gospel,” said the and much of the equipment stolen. “Fr. Stanley Rother is an “venerable.”
Most Rev. Paul S. Coakley, S’83, Several people in the community inspiration and model of selfless The third step includes
Archbishop of the Archdiocese of disappeared. During this time, Father love in his life lived for others. As a beatification, whereby the
Oklahoma City. Rother often reclaimed the corpses graduate of the seminary at Mount Theological Commission recognizes
The tiny Guatemalan town of of his friends from creek beds to give St. Mary’s, he served others in the the candidate as “blessed” through
Santiago Atitlán was among the them proper burials. day to day life of his parishioners in their heroic acts of virtue or, in
poorest places in Central America. By July 1981, eight priests had Guatemala as a missionary. Even Rev. Rother’s case, his assassination
Men earned .25 to .70 cents a day been killed or kidnapped. After 16 amidst danger and threats to his life, classifies him as a martyr.
for hard agricultural labor. More people in the town were massacred he spoke out against injustices and The final step is canonization
than half of all children died before soon after, Father Rother learned heroically served his people. His life and occurs when a miracle can be
the age of six. Responding to Pope that he too was on a death list. He will inspire both graduates of Mount documented as occurring after the
John XXIII’s request, Catholic returned to the United States for his St. Mary’s University and people person is recognized as “blessed,”
missionaries from Oklahoma arrived safety, but being away from Santiago everywhere,” said Fr. Brian Nolan, and received through the candidate’s
in 1964. They helped to establish a Atitlan was agonizing. Father university chaplain. intercession.
BOLLINGER HOMES, LLC Your Good News Community Newspaper
BOLLINGER HOMES, LLC
www.thecatoctinbanner.com
We specialize in... Custom Home Builder & Remodeler Serving Northern Frederick County, Maryland, Since 1995
• Additions
Custom Homes & • Garages Lawyer’s
Remodeling • Patios
Bollinger Homes, LLC have been building custom homes, Automotive
building additions and remodeling for over 20 years in • Decks
Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. • Concrete Walks
• Siding & Rooing SPECIALIZING IN
ALL TYPES OF
Call for a FREE ESTIMATE! AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR
Phone 301.447.6917 Strafford H. Lawyer II, Owner
Fax 301.447.2704
301-271-2736
1 Creamery Way 13910-B Jimtown Road
Emmitsburg, MD 21727 Thurmont, MD 21788
