A documentary about Father Stanley Rother, an American priest born in Oklahoma who was martyred in Guatemala, is scheduled for national screening from August 25-27. The film, titled American Martyr: The Stanley Rother Story, will be screened in English on August 25-26 and in Spanish on August 27.
The feature-length documentary is narrated by Martin Sheen and depicts the life of Father Rother, beginning with his childhood on a farm in Okarche, Oklahoma. According to the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, Rother grew up working the land with his father and attending Holy Trinity Catholic Church. His youth included playing basketball, serving as an altar server, and serving as president of the Future Farmers of America in high school.
After initially struggling with Latin in the seminary, Rother graduated from Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary in Maryland in 1963. Following his ordination for the Diocese of Oklahoma and Tulsa, he served as a parochial vicar in various parishes. In 1968, he requested a transfer to a diocesan mission church in Santiago Atitlán, Guatemala, to minister to the Tz’utujil people. While there, he learned the local language, helped translate the New Testament into Tz’utujil, and assisted in building schools and clinics.
The film explores Rother's commitment to his congregation during the Guatemalan civil war. Despite facing danger from government death squads, Rother returned to Guatemala in 1981 after a brief return to Oklahoma. He was killed by masked gunmen in his rectory on July 28, 1981.
Father Rother was the first American-born priest recognized as a martyr for the faith after being beatified by Pope Francis in 2016. His beatification took place on September 23, 2017, in Oklahoma City. The documentary, produced by Lampstand Story Company and distributed by Fathom Entertainment, includes historical footage and testimonies from family members and parishioners.
A reflection and discussion guide is available in English and Spanish at https://www.rotherdoc.com/parish-resources. Local showtimes for the film can be found online by searching for the documentary title in Utah.
