The Shepherd of Santiago Atitlán: An American Martyr

“The Shepherd cannot run at the first sign of danger.”

Father Stanley Rother

It is the strangest thing when you walk into a church in a village in Guatemala and see a picture of a man who so closely resembles your brother. It’s surreal. The man in the picture was Father Stanley Rother, and learning about his story was one of the most impactful moments during our trip.

So how did we reach this moment, this glitch in the universe? Jackie & I had been staying at Lake Atitlán for about a month and had only one day left to explore before leaving. We looked at the map and decided to take a day trip to Santiago. It took 3 tuk-tuks and 2 lanchas to get there, but it was worth the effort. Our intention for the day was to walk around and enjoy working from a cafe or two and head back early. But you know, as I’ve mentioned before, this lake always had other plans for me, and that day she had a special assignment for me.

Just as we stepped off the lancha onto the dock, we were greeted by a tour guide wearing a white polo decorated with blue lettering. He showed us a map and pointed to the 4-5 main points of interest. He told us a tuk-tuk was included in the price of the tour, and it could take an hour and a half to 2 hours. I was hesitant and unsure if I wanted to do it, but Jackie seemed eager and agreed. So we were doing the tour, it seems.

Admittedly, I didn’t know much about the history of Guatemala or the 36-year civil war that had taken place. What I learned on the tour changed me. The people of this area are resilient and inspiring, but it didn’t come without incredible pain and heartache.

Halfway through the tour, our guide brought us to a church in the middle of a plaza. Atop waved a Spanish flag. A reminder that this community has been through many seasons and withstood them all. As we walked inside the church, it looked like other Catholic churches, but immediately to the right, I saw a picture sitting on a table with flowers and a plaque of a man with blonde-ish hair, a strong chin, and a soft smile. Jackie and I looked at each other and did a double take because we were making the same realization at the same time.

As I am staring at the picture, I can’t hear what the guide is saying anymore. All I see is my brother’s picture sitting on a table in the middle of this church.

Father Stanley Rother was a Catholic priest from Oklahoma City who had been assigned as a missionary to Santiago Lake Atitlán in 1968. He helped the locals build a medical facility in the village and preached in Spanish and Tz’utujil, their native language. He dedicated time to translating the Bible into Tz’utujil and sharing farming techniques with local farmers. He built a radio station to give daily lessons on math and language. He was loved and respected by the community. He empowered the Maya people and spoke out against the violence committed by the government. That didn’t sit well with the right-wing paramilitary that was supported by the Guatemalan government.

Father Stanley Rother earned himself a spot on a list no one wanted to be on. The death squad assassination list. People warned him to get out, but he didn’t want to abandon his people and his mission. On July 28th, 1981, he was murdered. Many years later, he was deemed a martyr, having died for his religious beliefs.

I was stunned. I wasn’t expecting this when I came to Santiago for a chill day at a cafe. The history and stories of the people in Santiago are inspiring and worth learning about.

About the resemblance to my brother? It doesn’t end with a similar face… My brother’s name: Bailey Standley. Our maternal grandfather was born in Oklahoma and migrated to California in his teen years. My maternal grandmother had family who came from Oklahoma generations before. While my grandmother was alive, she spent time tracing our genealogy back several generations. I asked if there was any connection, but she said she couldn’t find any between our family and Father Stanley Rother.

While there are no official family ties to Father Stanley Rother, I do find it quite the surreal coincidence. I think that day I learned that sometimes what’s on your agenda isn’t what was meant for you. The lake has better plans for me that day.