About

In 2007, the Cause for Canonization for then Father Stanley Rother was opened. In June 2015, the Vatican in Rome voted to formally recognize Oklahoma’s Father Stanley Rother a martyr. The determination of martyrdom was a critical step in the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City’s Cause to have Father Rother beatified, the final stage before canonization as a saint.

On Dec. 1, 2016, Pope Francis officially recognized Father Rother as a martyr for the faith. He is the first martyr from the United States and the first U.S.-born priest to be beatified. The Rite of Beatification was held on Sept. 23, 2017, in downtown Oklahoma City – an event attended by more than 20,000 people from around the world.

Standing as a beacon of faith and a visible sign of the Church’s presence in Oklahoma, the Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine is a resource for the entire archdiocese. The shrine will welcome pilgrims from throughout Oklahoma, the United States and beyond.

The shrine church is designed in the Spanish-mission style, mirroring Blessed Stanley’s church in Santiago Atitlán, Guatemala: Saint James the Apostle Catholic Church.

Inside the 6,000-square-foot pilgrim center, visitors will find the museum and gift shop. The museum highlights the story of Blessed Stanley Rother’s life and mission. It features artifacts from every stage of his life and provide information about his martyrdom and beatification. With God's blessing, one day, it also will contain information related to his canonization!

Read More About the Shrine's Art & Architecture