Gov. Kevin Stitt has proclaimed Sunday, July 28, 2019, as Blessed Stanley Rother Day in Oklahoma.

The day recognizes the Oklahoma priest’s Feast Day, commemorated with a special mass at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Rother’s childhood parish, and celebrated each year by the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, the Diocese of Tulsa and the Diocese of Little Rock, Ark.

The day also marks the 38^th anniversary of Rother’s 1981 murder in Santiago Atitlan, Guatemala, a victim of a civil war between a militaristic government and rebel guerrilla forces.

Raised on an Okarche family farm and ordained a priest in 1963, Rother sought permission to join the staff at the Oklahoma diocese’s mission in Guatemala, serving the native tribe of the Tz’utujil, descendants of the Mayans.

Rother learned both Spanish and the Tz’utujil language, helping translate the New Testament and regularly serving mass in the native tongue of his parishioners.

Rother put his Okarche farming skills to use helping the impoverished tribe improve their farms and building an irrigation system.

His ready willingness to live and work among the native people, visiting their homes and joining them for meals as well as ministering to their medical, physical and spiritual needs, endeared Rother to the local people.

When the Catholic Church was caught in the crossfires of the raging military conflict, thousands of Catholics were killed and Rother’s name eventually ended up on a death list.

For his safety and that of his associate, Rother returned to Oklahoma in May 1981, but was determined to return to his mission, uttering what has become a famous phrase, “the shepherd cannot run.”

Not long after his return to Guatemala, three men entered Rother’s quarters in the middle of the night and executed him.

Rother was beatified – a significant step toward sainthood in the Catholic Church – in Oklahoma City in a September 2017 ceremony attended by tens of thousands from across the country.“

Blessed Stanley Rother dedicated his life to serving others by spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout Oklahoma and Guatemala,” the Governor’s proclamation states.

“We are grateful for Gov. Stitt’s recognition of this heroic and humble Oklahoma priest who gave his life in service to his people,” Archbishop Paul S. Coakley said.

“Blessed Stanley is a model for us all, and a man who stayed true to his Oklahoma roots with hard work and dedication to his faith.”

The Archdiocese in Oklahoma City is in the final stages of a design of 2,000-seat shrine, museum and campus in his honor, located in south Oklahoma City.