Remembering the martyrs of El Salvador

On December 2, 1980, Maryknoll sisters Maura Clarke and Ita Ford, lay missioner Jean Donovan, and Ursuline sister Dorothy Kazel were murdered by a death squad for their work helping the poor of El Salvador and for their human rights advocacy, which were considered subversive activities during a brutal civil war that claimed an estimated 75,000 lives.

Today, on the 31st anniversary of their deaths, we ask you to recall their stories and stories of all the Central American martyrs, including Father Rutilio Grande and Archbishop Oscar Romero and the thousands of anonymous people who suffered persecution, torture, and death in Central America in the 1980s.

You can learn more here, here, here and here.

May thoughts of their continued impact bring peace and inspiration to you today and through your Advent journey.

“The great problem in Nicaragua as in all Latin America is the problem of terrible injustice - the small number of very rich and the great percentage of miserably poor.”

“I see in this work a channel for awakening real concern for the victims of injustice in today’s world; a means to work for change, and to share deep concern for the sufferings of the poor and marginated, the non-persons of our human family”
Maura Clarke, M.M., killed December 2nd, 1980.


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"No hay amor cristiano sin lucha de justicia"
[There is no Christian love without a fight for justice]
Ignacio Ellacuria S.J., killed Nov. 16th 1989


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“The reasons why so many people are being killed are quite complicated, yet . . . many people have found a meaning to life, to sacrifice, to struggle and even to death! And whether their life spans 16 years or 60 or 90, for them their life has had a purpose. In many ways, they are fortunate people. . . . I hope you come to find that which gives life a deep meaning for you.

Something worth living for, maybe even worth dying for, something that energizes you, enthuses you to keep moving ahead. I can't tell you what it might be. That's for you to find, to choose, to love. I just encourage you to start looking and support you in the search.”
Ita Ford, M.M., killed December 2nd, 1980, in a letter to her 16-year-old niece.