On July 28, 1981, a priest from Okarche, Oklahoma, was murdered by Marxist guerrillas in Guatemala. Father Stanley Rother had been warned. The soldiers had put his name on a death list. His bishop had ordered him home. But Stanley Rother returned to Santiago Atitlán, the Mayan village where he had served for thirteen years, telling his parents: "The shepherd cannot run at the first sign of danger." He was shot and beaten to death in the rectory of his parish church.
On September 23, 2017, Pope Francis declared Stanley Rother a martyr—the first American-born priest to receive this recognition. On September 23, 2023, he was beatified at a Mass in Oklahoma City attended by 30,000 people. The Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine, rising on Oklahoma City's western edge, now stands as the most significant Catholic pilgrimage destination between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains.
The shrine's striking architecture—a modern interpretation of a Guatemalan church, with soaring glass walls and native Oklahoma stone—houses Blessed Stanley's tomb beneath the altar. Pilgrims come to pray at the first-class relics, to learn his story in the museum, and to encounter a saint whose life speaks powerfully to the contemporary Church: a farm boy from the Oklahoma wheat fields who learned a Mayan language, translated the New Testament, and died rather than abandon his flock.
📜 History & Spiritual Significance
Stanley Francis Rother was born March 27, 1935, on a farm near Okarche, Oklahoma. He struggled academically in seminary—failing Latin twice—but persevered, was ordained in 1963, and volunteered for the diocese's mission in Santiago Atitlán, Guatemala, in 1968.
The remote highland town, inhabited by Tz'utujil Maya, became his home. Father Stanley (or Padre Apla's, as the people called him) learned Tz'utujil, helped translate the New Testament into their language, established a radio station, and started an agricultural cooperative. He became thoroughly identified with his people.
In the late 1970s, Guatemala's civil war intensified. Government death squads targeted anyone suspected of leftist sympathies; Church workers who advocated for indigenous rights were particular targets. In January 1981, Father Stanley's name appeared on a death list. His bishop ordered him home. He returned to Oklahoma but could not stay away. "The shepherd cannot run," he wrote.
On July 28, 1981, three armed men broke into the rectory. Father Stanley struggled with them, trying to protect his young housekeeper. He was shot and beaten to death. He was 46 years old. His body was returned to Oklahoma for burial, but his heart—removed by the people of Santiago Atitlán in accordance with their custom of burying a person's heart where they most loved—remains in Guatemala.
The cause for his canonization opened in 2007. Pope Francis declared him a martyr in 2016 and beatified him in 2017.
☩ Pilgrimage Sites in Oklahoma City
Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine
First shrine in North America dedicated to a U.S.-born martyr
The shrine church, dedicated in 2022, seats 2,000 and features architecture inspired by Guatemalan churches. Blessed Stanley's tomb lies beneath the main altar. The building incorporates native Oklahoma limestone and Guatemalan design elements, bridging his two homelands.
The shrine includes first-class relics of Blessed Stanley, a perpetual adoration chapel, and extensive museum exhibits documenting his life and martyrdom. His blood-stained alb and the breviary found in his pocket after his death are among the relics displayed.
Museum and Pastoral Center
The Blessed Stanley Rother Pastoral Center houses the museum chronicling his life, ministry in Guatemala, and martyrdom. Artifacts include personal belongings, photographs, and items from Santiago Atitlán.
Holy Trinity Church, Okarche
Father Stanley's home parish, 30 minutes north of Oklahoma City, maintains memorials to their native son. His family farm is nearby.
🕯️ Annual Feast Days & Celebrations
Feast of Blessed Stanley Rother — July 28
Anniversary of his martyrdom, with solemn Mass and special devotions at the shrine.
Anniversary of Beatification — September 23
Commemoration of the 2017 beatification Mass.
🛏️ Where to Stay
Colcord Hotel ⭐⭐⭐⭐ — Boutique hotel in downtown Oklahoma City. Reserve this hotel
Ambassador Hotel Oklahoma City ⭐⭐⭐⭐ — Historic hotel near the shrine. Reserve this hotel
Hilton Garden Inn Oklahoma City Airport ⭐⭐⭐ — Practical hotel near Will Rogers World Airport with free shuttle, ideal for pilgrims arriving by air before traveling to the shrine or Okarche. Reserve this hotel
🚗 Getting There
By Air: Will Rogers World Airport (OKC) is 10 miles from the shrine.
By Car: The shrine is located in southwest Oklahoma City, accessible from I-44 and I-240.
📚 Further Reading
Books:
María Ruiz Scaperlanda, The Shepherd Who Didn't Run — Biography of Blessed Stanley Rother.
🔗 Useful Links
Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine — Mass schedule, tours, pilgrimage planning.
Archdiocese of Oklahoma City — Diocesan information.
🧭 Nearby Pilgrimage Destinations
San Antonio (700 km south) — Spanish missions and Little Flower Basilica.
🪶 Closing Reflection
"The shepherd cannot run at the first sign of danger." — Blessed Stanley Rother, 1981
