Over Christmas, the owners of Pecina’s Mexican Café – El Reno traveled to Guatemala, specifically to San José de Pinula, to serve at an orphanage called Funda Niños. During their time there, they also visited Santiago Atitlán and the Iglesia Parroquial Santiago Apóstol (Saint James the Apostle Church), where Father Stanley Rother carried out much of his missionary work and ultimately gave his life.
Father Stanley Rother was born in 1935 in Okarche, Oklahoma, and was ordained a Catholic priest in 1963. He served the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City before being assigned in 1968 as a missionary to Santiago Atitlán, where he worked with the Tz’utujil Mayan community. He learned the local language, translated the New Testament into Tz’utujil, and lived among the people, referring to them as his brothers and sisters.
His ministry took place during a period of civil unrest in Guatemala, when clergy and community leaders were increasingly targeted. Although he was briefly recalled to Oklahoma in 1980 for his safety, Father Rother chose to return to Guatemala, stating that he could not abandon his parish.
On the night of July 28, 1981, Father Rother was killed by armed men in a small room next to the church in Santiago Atitlán. That room remains preserved today and is recognized as the site of his martyrdom. During their visit, they viewed this room and documented the space, reflecting on his courage and lasting impact on the community.
Father Stanley Rother was beatified by the Catholic Church in 2017 and is on the path to sainthood, recognized for his martyrdom and dedication to the people he served. He continues to be remembered and honored both in Guatemala and in Oklahoma. The visit served as an opportunity to witness firsthand the enduring connection between the communities he served.
Photos provided by Pecina’s Mexican Cafe.
