He Listened to Us: A Maya Witness to Blessed Stanley "Apla's" Rother

He Listened to Us is a memoir by Maya community leader Juan Ajtzip in Santiago Atitlán, Guatemala, focusing on his relationship with Blessed Stanley Rother, who was martyred there in 1981. Rother, a missionary priest from Oklahoma, has been declared a martyr for the faith and was beatified by Pope Francis in 2017. He lived among the Tz'utujil Maya people of Santiago Atitlán, Guatemala, from 1968 until his assassination on July 28, 1981. Guided by his deep sense of pastoral vocation, Rother defended the dignity of the Tz'utujil after centuries of racism and repression, inspiring Maya community leaders to launch their own social initiatives. In this memoir, Juan Ajtzip, who worked closely with Rother, offers the first account of his impact in a Mayan voice. The result is a memory of Rother, embedded in a memoir of Juan's own life, embedded within the "Atiteca" community.

About the Author :
Juan Ajtzip is a preschool teacher and community organizer. He was the first Mayan director of La Voz de Atitlán, a radio station founded by a missionary team from Oklahoma. He held this position for twenty-four years. In this capacity he collaborated directly with Blessed Father Stanley Rother. He also served as secretary of the church reconstruction committee. He was active as a catechist and president of Catholic Action, serving in leadership roles in both groups during the 1980s and 1990s. Gerald Schlabach is a professor emeritus of theology at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota, USA, and a veteran of social development and peace and justice education projects in Central America during the 1980s. He renewed his relationship with Guatemala in 2000, when he began leading courses in the country on the Church in Latin America for US students.

Review :
"He Listened to Us is a unique reflection on the mission of Blessed Stan Rother told through the experience of a close Mayan colleague. Juan Ajtzip offers the reader a rich, important opportunity to taste the challenges and beauty of the community's life in Santiago Atitlán that so deeply engaged Blessed Rother." --Marie Dennis, Director, Pax Christi International's Catholic Institute for Nonviolence "The struggles of the community in Santiago Atitlán, Guatemala, and the martyrdom of Fr. Stan Rother for his unwavering support of the local Mayan people represent a significant chapter in the history of faith-based solidarity. Juan Ajtzip artfully intertwines his memoir, Fr. Stan Rother's ministry, and the community's testimony. He Listened to Us is a powerful testament to the power of Catholic witness, the depth of Rother's solidarity, and the enduring fight for human dignity." --Michelle Gonzalez Maldonado, Provost, Lebanon Valley College, Pennsylvania "Ajtzip, who worked closely with Father Stanley Rother, describes the priest's commitment to fully convivir--to share in full community with the people of Santiago Atitlán--even at the price of his own life. This deeply personal and highly readable book--part memoir, part religious reflection, and part alternative history of Guatemala from an indigenous perspective--offers a unique and valuable addition to our understanding of the interstices of faith, culture, violence, and devotion." --Virginia Garrard, Professor Emerita, University of Texas at Austin