Sooner Catholic soonercatholic.org August 20, 2017 archokc.org Go Make Disciples Following Stan Rother’s example How we can say “yes” in everyday life By Father Don Wolf ourselves in such circumstances. For the Sooner Catholic We are not faced with the prospect of death squads or the complica- he fundamental challenge tions of living our lives threading we all face as we participate the needle between competing Tin the beatification process claims to loyalty. But, while Stan’s is simple: What does Father Stan- example is the bright shining torch ley Rother’s example hold for us? lighting up the darkness, it is a What does a life rooted in the fields version of the decision we all must and farms of Okarche, beginning in make. Our opportunities for ho- 1935, have to say to someone born liness might be dim, but they are in, say, 2002? Stanley’s life is a gift: just as real. How do we unwrap it? Stan began his sacrifice when he As you know, I am a relative of gave his life away in service at his Father Stan. My mother was a Roth- ordination; it resulted in his mar- er from Okarche; she grew up on a tyrdom 18 years later. We begin farm one mile west of Stanley’s par- our service just the same; where it ents. My grandfather and Stanley’s will end up is God’s to know. But, grandfather were brothers. we do begin it when we give our I always have been proud of my “yes” to the call we have received. association with Stan through this Talk to any parent; speak to any family we share. Our common her- the greatest of all connections to him is the spouse; spend some time with itage bonds us to one another in a real way. sacrifice he was willing to make for his people. any teacher; any call from the Lord of Life is a And, I have always been very proud of the In the midst of the civil war going on in Gua- call to lay down our lives in service to another. priesthood we have shared. We were ordained temala during the murderous days of the early The circumstances are different; the call is the 18 years apart, but this two-decade separation 1980s, Stan could have driven to Guatemala same. The results will be the same as well. is nothing. City, bought a plane tick- Think about it. On the day we draw our last Stan and I et, presented his American breath, we will be surrendering everything. We are united passport and flown off to won’t die in a pool of blood on the floor of a by blood; safety at any moment. But, rectory in Guatemala, a victim of civil war, but the Oklaho- he decided to stay. And, he if we have surrendered our lives to God’s call, ma priestly remained, not because he we will die a servant to God’s Will; we will be a connection didn’t know the dangers witness (‘martyr’ means ‘witness’ in Greek) to we share is facing him or the threats to following Christ. just as strong And, our witness will begin as it began for and just as remarkable. This is no small thing. If you have even a pass- ing knowl- edge of the history of the Church in Oklahoma and the many extraordinary men who have served here, it will not surprise you to find the first native born priest named a martyr in the United States is an Oklaho- man. This is the legacy we all have inher- ited. When I think of Fa- ther Stanley Rother, I am more likely to emphasize the connection we share because of the “Father” Fr. Pedro Navarra of the Diocese of San Diego, Fr. Donald Wolf and Fr. Stanley Rother at Fr. Wolf’s ordina- tion. Photo Archdiocese of Oklahoma City Archives. in his title than to make a claim on the his life or the possible outcomes of his pres- Father Rother: when we say “yes” to the call “Rother” in his ence, but because he did. we receive. It doesn’t matter whether it’s on the name. When we look at the saintly example Father day when we slip a ring on the finger of our But, beyond Stan gave, and as we celebrate his martyrdom, spouse, when the ultrasound technician these connec- it’s easy for us to affirm his example as a real tions we share, act of holiness. But, we don’t usually imagine continued on page 10 2 August 20, 2017 Sooner Catholic Sooner Catholic August 20, 2017 3 Put Out Into the Deep Luke 5:4 Find more St. Anne’s Ministry for infant, pregnancy loss Are you going? news on the website offers comfort, healing On Monday, Aug. 21, many Americans will witness the triumph of Divine By Eliana Tedrow baby either through miscarriage or after birth, baby, grief can be complicated by several fac- an extremely rare astronomical phenomenon, a total Mercy over human By Sooner Catholic Staff The Sooner Catholic resources to help them through the grief and tors. In many ways, their grief goes unacknowl- solar eclipse. The sun will appear to be darkened for sinfulness. Jesus Christ healing process are scarce,” Clevenger said. edged. As Catholics, we believe that life begins a time as the moon passes between the earth and is the light of the world When Lindsay Juarez unexpectedly lost her Additional coverage of Following two successful pregnancies, Ali- at conception, and for families that lose a baby, the sun, casting its shadow over much of the earth’s and this “light shines in daughter, Rosalie, moments away from birth, Church and archdiocesan their world was turned upside down. In a mo- cia Philips, said she suffered two miscarriages this teaching is very real.” surface. The last time such an event occurred across the darkness, and the news and events, only on back-to-back last year. the whole of the contiguous United States was in darkness has not over- ment, Juarez, like countless other women faced For Lindsay Juarez, www.soonercatholic.org. “It was hurtful and very hard to 1918! Thousands of people will travel great distances come it” (Jn 1:5). with miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy or still- and so many other explain to our kids what was go- to experience this extraordinary phenomenon. On July 28, 1981, it birth, was found grieving the unexpected loss participants of Saint a Santa Fe Family Life ing on and why the baby wasn’t Perhaps it was an actual solar eclipse coinciding must have seemed as if Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of her baby. Center pool season in mommy’s tummy anymore.” Anne’s, this ministry with the moment of Our Lord’s death that caused the darkness had triumphed “I found out quickly that grief and loss are so The Santa Fe Family Life One day, her husband, Bran- makes this teaching darkness described in Saint Matthew’s Gospel: “From in the village of Santiago Atitlan in Guatemala. That very different when it’s your child, and when Center’s pool season runs don, looked down at the bulletin come alive. noon onward, darkness came over the whole land un- morning, thousands of grieving parishioners gathered the death is ‘out of order,’” Juarez said. “I knew through Labor Day. The pool in her church and noticed the “It’s what I love about til three in the afternoon” (Mt 27:45). An eclipse of the in the plaza in front of the massive colonial church I wanted to go to therapy, but I was not sure offers lap swimming, swim Saint Anne’s support group. He this group of women,” sun is certainly an appropriate cosmic sign for the as word spread that their beloved shepherd, Padre about support groups. I never liked crying in lessons and flexible hours. encouraged her to go and, be- Juarez said. “They are very moment when sin and death seemed to triumph A’Plas, had been killed. During the night, intruders front of people, and I knew I would cry a lot.” Family membership $275 cause childcare was available, over light and life. For three days, hope was eclipsed had broken into the rectory and murdered Father That all changed one day when she received unwavering in their for the summer; individual they both began participating in by despair. The Resurrection, however, proclaims Stanley Rother, the shepherd who didn’t run. a pamphlet and personal letter in the mail, support. Whatever you membership $175. Knights’ Christ’s ultimate victory: the victory of life over death; Hope seemed to have been vanquished by violence, inviting her and her husband to join the Saint the group together. want to say, feel, do to families $29.95 a month. Call love eclipsed by hatred. But, life Anne’s Ministry for Pregnancy and Infant Loss. “After each of the miscarriag- express what you are (405) 840-1817, visit 6300 N. and hope were indeed victorious. Based at Saint John in Edmond, Saint Anne’s es, especially the second one, I feeling, you are always Santa Fe Ave. or visit www. didn’t feel like I was able to com- “The blood of martyrs is the seed is a monthly support group for parents who are welcome. Grief looks sfflc.com. fort Alicia and help her overcome of the Church” as Tertullian wrote grieving the loss of a baby due to miscarriage, so different to every- ectopic pregnancy, stillbirth or other reason.