An inspiring pilgrimage into the steps of Bl. Stanley

The yellow bus pulled up to welcome aboard the Oklahoma City pilgrims – 13 in all – just beyond the doors of the airport in Guatemala City. The group from the archdiocese readied to begin an almost week-long journey in mid-February, yet none could truly be ready, nor anticipate the transformative days awaiting and presenting an immersion into the life and impact of Blessed Stanley Rother.

That impact remains, in Santiago Atitlán where he served the people as their pastor, in the surrounding towns and villages, and in some ways all across the Central American country.

As pilgrims, we witnessed and felt the impact, too, drawing us closer together. And closer to Blessed Stanley. We traveled for just that, to better understand Blessed Stanley, his commitment and love for the people, and their love for him, which remains four decades since his death as a martyr.

Blessed Stanley was alive in the bus, in our conversations and reflections, and as we said group rosaries navigating the tight turns, climbs and descents of the mountain into Santiago Atitlán. He was there in our shared experiences, in the people and especially the young students of the local school. And he was there in our group dinners, as we broke bread – and tortillas – and recapped the day and its marvels.

And he was ever-present in the daily Masses, especially our final day, when Father Zak Boazman and Father John Paul Lewis led us in the room where Blessed Stanley was murdered.

Below, you can read individual reflections from many in the travel party, which included two from the Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine, Cynthia Aranda and Elizabeth Rivera, along with Elizabeth’s husband James; Archdiocese of Oklahoma City colleagues Rhonda McMillin, Larann Wilson, Luis Soto, Jennifer Yardley – and her husband Max – and myself; Fathers Zak and John Paul; and Michael Scaperlanda, and his wife Maria, author of the Rother biography “The Shepherd Who Didn’t Run.”

There’s something, too, from Felipe Coché Pablo, who along with his wife Conchita, served as our inspiring travel guides.

Blessed Stanley Rother … pray for us!


An inspiring pilgrimage into the steps of Bl. Stanley

The Takeaways 
“As director of seminarians, I am always looking at things through the lens of priestly vocations. The Diocese of Solola-Chimaltenango (in Guatemala), comprised of 47 parishes (We have 62 in our diocese, along with 37 mission churches), currently has 70 young men in the latter stages of formation for the priesthood, and 27 in their first year of seminary. It was incredible to see the fruit that Blessed Stanley’s life, work and death has had in that area, along with the many other missionary priests who have given their lives in service there. His intercession for us is also bearing fruit, with a growing number of men in our own diocese discerning a call to this life, and I hope that we have a response similar to the one they are seeing in Guatemala.” – Fr. John Paul Lewis, pastor, St. Francis of Assisi

“It was evident why Blessed Stanley Rother loved the Guatemalan people. They were such kind, welcome and gracious people. I was struck by how he continues to influence them. When asked why we were visiting, we would in turn ask, ‘Do you know Father Stanley Rother?’ And their eyes would light up and they would affectionately respond ‘Ah! Padre Apla's!’ – Larann Wilson, associate director Department of Evangelization and Discipleship

“My major takeaway is that Blessed Stanley Rother had a lot of faith and zeal to travel to such a remote place. His zeal is inspirational to me, and quite evidently, it has impacted the people of Santiago and Guatemala.” – Fr. Zachary Boazman, pastor, Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Okarche

“Trying to imagine the surroundings through Blessed Stanley’s eyes, it’s understandable that he felt a connection to the natural landscape, culture and people. They’re so uniquely beautiful and special. They’ve had to recover and rebuild after volcano eruptions, earthquakes, mudslides and so many other tragedies. Blessed Stanley’s compassionate heart wanted to do everything he could to help and protect them. He was such a beautiful example to them of Christ’s love.” – Rhonda McMillin, director of human resources

“The stay and fellowship with our friends from Oklahoma is a blessing for us at Padre Apla’s Catholic School. Without their support, my school would not be able to fulfill its primary mission: educating our children who are the future of tomorrow. Also learning more about the life of Blessed Apla’s. To share hope, love and faith with others, to promote the Good News of our Lord Jesus. Amen.” – Felipe Coché Pablo, guide and administrator St. James the Apostle Catholic Church, Santiago Atitlan

Moments
“Our group prayed the rosary together on the bus when we would travel from an outside town back into Santiago. Spending time in this beautiful prayer as a group was very impactful to me. The prayer really felt meditative, and everyone was confidently saying the prayer. We didn’t have group discussion about what the rosary meant to one person or the other, but the act of doing this each day made me feel so much closer to this group and to my own faith almost like this group of is my new spiritual group.” – Jennifer Yardley, director of annual giving.

“Blessed Stanley Rother’s example for us is as missionaries. We must grow in our desire to share the Gospel, and grow in our conviction that it’s worth going to the end of the world to share that message!” – Fr. Boazman

“Entering the grounds of the Saint James the Apostle Church in Santiago, Atitlán, as well as the room where Blessed Stanley was murdered, which now is his chapel. My heart was so full of emotions that overcame my expectations. My tears rolled down without controlling them … I felt his presence there.” – Cynthia Aranda, director of volunteer services, Bl. Stanley Rother Shrine

“We got to spend one morning with the students of the parish school and that experience is one of the main reasons I’m certain I’ll return to Santiago Atitlán someday. The children were so incredibly joyful and welcoming. They showered Father Zak and Father John Paul with hugs during the procession after Mass, then cheered for us as we entered their classrooms to introduce ourselves afterward.” – McMillin

Impact
“For me, the Masses we celebrated in the places where Blessed Stanley lived, worked and died were moments of unique connection to him. I felt a closeness with him and with the Lord in those intimate moments of celebrating the Eucharist. Most powerfully, the opportunity to celebrate Mass in the very spot where he was martyred was a moment of tremendous grace. To utter the words of Christ, ‘This is my body, given up for you,’ in the very place where Blessed Stanley made those words his own for the people of Santiago was one of the greatest privileges I’ve had in my priesthood. It calls me to a deeper desire to truly live out my call to the priesthood more fully.” – Fr. Lewis

“Although I had heard the stories and read the book all about Blessed Stanley and how he gave his life to defend the faith, it was something completely different to experience it. Experiencing Guatemala, you can feel Blessed Stanley’s energy there. The people all have personal relationships with him, and you can tell they each know him on a personal level.” – Yardley

“Walking in the footsteps of Blessed Stanley Rother deepened my understanding of a truth I already knew: ‘Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains a single grain; but if it dies, it produces a rich harvest.’ Blessed Stanley’s life and sacrifice were not in vain – his presence still lives among the people of Santiago Atitlán. His unwavering trust in God and the promise of resurrection brought lasting change to the world, demonstrating the power of faith and self-giving love.” – Elizabeth Rivera, director of music, and organist, Bl. Stanley Rother Shrine

“I continuously share the story Felipe told us in the room where Blessed Stanley Rother was killed, that the night before he had dinner with some nuns and said to them at the end, ‘I must leave now because I am getting up early tomorrow to donate blood.’ This story still haunts and inspires me because it draws me to John 15:13: ‘Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.’” – Wilson

Evolving Devotion
“I’m shifting from seeing Blessed Stanley simply as a martyr to appreciating his witness as a missionary martyr. The missionary element has become more inspirational to me after taking this trip.” – Fr. Boazman

“Looking back on my life, I can see now that Blessed Stanley’s prayers have been at work, even when I wasn’t aware of it. Through his intercession, I believe I have been called to help lead Hispanics in Oklahoma in praying the Mass – an honor that deepens my respect and devotion to him.” – Rivera

“The story of Blessed Apla’s … every time I engage in conversation, I am impacted by his fellowship. It’s like returning to the past and contemplating the fellowship Padre Apla’s left among my people.” – Coché Pablo

It’s Personal
“I felt a deep closeness to Blessed Stanley during this trip. Reading his biography and seeing the places that deepened his own faith and priesthood, I have come to a deeper understanding of how he lived out his priesthood. I want to be like him. I want to give myself in service to the Church the way he did. I want to bring people, like he did, to know the Lord and to find joy in that relationship. I know he is praying for me, and will continue to offer guidance to me in this pursuit of holiness in this vocation.” – Fr. Lewis

“The moment I was not prepared for, entering the room where Blessed Stanley was martyred in the evening. There is something very special about experiencing that chapel in the evening hours since he was martyred in the middle of the night. When I walked into that room the first thing I saw was a statue of Blessed Stanley smiling back at me. I immediately burst into tears which took me by surprise. It was like he spoke to my soul that, yes, he gave his life for the faith and I, too, should wear my faith on my sleeve.” – Yardley

“This trip made me realize how universal God’s love is. Though we come from different cultures and backgrounds, we are all part of one family in Christ. Seeing the deep faith of the Guatemalan people, despite hardships, challenged me to trust God more fully in my own life. I returned home with a renewed commitment to live my faith more intentionally, whether in my family, my church or my community.” – Rivera

“By visiting the churches and other areas Blessed Stanley visited, I would picture him being there and loving his people to the ultimate sacrifice. I came back very motivated to be a better person, to be more patient and be much more given to the needs of others.” – Aranda

“Walking in the footsteps of Blessed Stanley Rother was a transformative experience that drew me closer to him. It increased my desire to love and serve wherever and however the Lord calls me. I can honestly say that I don't think I would have made this pilgrimage on my own. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to have done so with my colleagues. We have become closer because of this experience. I would highly recommend this pilgrimage to anyone who was considering it.” – Wilson

“The people of Santiago Atitlán live simply and humbly, enjoying few of the pleasures we do in the U.S. Yet, they live with immense spirit and love for God, providing a true example of authentic and genuine faith. I could only thank God for opening my eyes to this, and ask him to help me grow in the same spirit, love and faith.” – John Helsley, director of communications


Photo: (Above) Fr. Zachary Boazman, pastor of Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Okarche, connected with Elena Petzey during a recent pilgrimage to Santiago Atitlán, recreating the famous photo taken with Okarche’s favorite son, Bl. Stanley Rother, when she was a young girl. Photo provided.


Thirteen pilgrims traveled to Guatemala in February to learn more about the life of Bl. Stanley Rother. Felipe Coché Pablo and his wife Conchita from Guatemala, served as travel guides. Photo provided.

Fr. Zachary Boazman (left) and Fr. John Paul Lewis celebrated Mass on Feb. 15 in the room where Bl. Stanley Rother was martyred in Guatemala. Photo John Helsley/Sooner Catholic.

Late on their first day, the pilgrims prepared to pass through the door into the room where Bl. Stanley Rother was murdered – now a chapel. Photo John Helsley/Sooner Catholic.

The room where Bl. Stanley Rother was murdered is now a chapel. Photo John Helsley/Sooner Catholic.