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A prayer service celebrating the lives and witness of Maura Clarke, Ita Ford, Dorothy Kazel and Jean Donovan, four women who were martyred in El Salvador on Dec. 2, 1980, was held at the Archbishop Cousins Catholic Center in Milwaukee on Saturday, Dec. 2nd.
Dec. 2 marks the 20th anniversary of the deaths of Maryknoll sisters Maura Clarke and Ita Ford, Ursuline sister Dorothy Kazel, and lay missionary Jean Donovan. While returning from the San Salvador airport, their vehicle was commandeered by El Salvadoran National Guardsmen. The women were taken to an isolated location, abused, shot, and buried in a shallow roadside grave. Their deaths are understood as martyrdom because the women did what Jesus did - loved the poor and laid down their lives for them.
The murders, which occurred less than nine months after the assassination of Archbishop Oscar Romero, became the focus of the U.S. debate about American involvement in Central America.
The archdiocesan offices for Human Concerns/Respect Life; Women; and World Mission co-sponsored the event with 11 other organizations, including the Greater Milwaukee Synod, ELCA; the Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee; and the Sacred Heart School of Theology Peace and Justice Committee.
If you were unable to attend and would like to join in prayer at another place and time please click on the link below to download from our Archdiocese web site.
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