Jean Donovan was an American lay missionary who was brutally raped and murdered, along with three Religious Sisters – Dorothy Kazel, Maura Clarke and Ita Ford - in El Salvador.
They were killed by a military death squad, while volunteering to do charity work during the civil war there.
They were killed by a military death squad, while volunteering to do charity work during the civil war there.
Four Churchwomen Killed
Jean Donovan, Dorothy Kazel, Maura Clarke and Ita Forde “The Peace Corps left today and my heart sank low. The danger is extreme and they were right to leave. Now I must assess my own position, because I am not up for suicide. Several times I have decided to leave El Salvador. I almost could, except for the children, the poor, bruised victims of this insanity. Who would care for them? Whose heart could be so staunch as to favor the reasonable thing in a sea of their tears and loneliness? Not mine, dear friend, not mine.” – Jean Donovan a few weeks before her death
On 2 December, 1980, four North American churchwomen were killed by death squads in El Salvador. These same death squads were U.S.-trained and funded. The churchwomen bodies were found in a shallow, unmarked grave in a barren countryside not far from the San Salvador airport.
Sister Ita Ford was a Maryknoll nun who had spent years in Chile. Sister Maura Clarke, also a Maryknoll nun, had been in Nicaragua for years. Sister Dorothy kazel was an Ursuline nun from Cleveland, who had gone to El Salvador to do missionary work and finally, Jean Donovan. Jean was not a nun, but she was a missionary. She had volunteered to assist the church in El Salvador, after hearing a calling she believed to be from God.
On 2 December, 1980, four North American churchwomen were killed by death squads in El Salvador. These same death squads were U.S.-trained and funded. The churchwomen bodies were found in a shallow, unmarked grave in a barren countryside not far from the San Salvador airport.
Sister Ita Ford was a Maryknoll nun who had spent years in Chile. Sister Maura Clarke, also a Maryknoll nun, had been in Nicaragua for years. Sister Dorothy kazel was an Ursuline nun from Cleveland, who had gone to El Salvador to do missionary work and finally, Jean Donovan. Jean was not a nun, but she was a missionary. She had volunteered to assist the church in El Salvador, after hearing a calling she believed to be from God.
From Connecticut to El Salvador
Jean Donovan Jean was born on 10 April, 1953. She had a charmed life, growing up in upper-middle-class Connecticut. She was raised a strict Catholic, and after College she went to Ireland for a year, which changed her life. While in Ireland she befriended a priest. This priest had a deep passion for helping the underprivileged, especially those in Latin America. After meeting this priest, Jean decided not to work anymore at her executive job, to instead join the missionaries and go to El Salvador – leaving all her worldly possessions behind, including her fiancé.
Part of Jean’s work in the village of La Libertad was to pick up the dead bodies of those the soldiers had killed and bury them. She would also support the relatives of those who had lost someone during the turmoil of the civil war which was going on at the time.
Archbishop Oscar Romero was an inspiration to all of the missionaries. He would make fearless homilies at mass, lifting up their spirits when they were feeling their very lowest. The soldiers did not like the things the Archbishop was saying – you know, that killing was wrong and all that... so while he was presiding over an evening mass, he was shot and killed. Obviously this deeply affected all of the church people, but it affected Jean in particular. She took vigil next to his coffin during the all night wake.
During the funeral the following day, the government threw bombs in the crowd of 3000 people who had come to say their final respects, killing at least 30 people.
Part of Jean’s work in the village of La Libertad was to pick up the dead bodies of those the soldiers had killed and bury them. She would also support the relatives of those who had lost someone during the turmoil of the civil war which was going on at the time.
Archbishop Oscar Romero was an inspiration to all of the missionaries. He would make fearless homilies at mass, lifting up their spirits when they were feeling their very lowest. The soldiers did not like the things the Archbishop was saying – you know, that killing was wrong and all that... so while he was presiding over an evening mass, he was shot and killed. Obviously this deeply affected all of the church people, but it affected Jean in particular. She took vigil next to his coffin during the all night wake.
During the funeral the following day, the government threw bombs in the crowd of 3000 people who had come to say their final respects, killing at least 30 people.
Atrocities
The bodies as found One night in August 1980 Jean and two friends went to see a movie. The friends walked her back to her lodgings, and were never seen alive again. Once they had left Jean, they were violently murdered. These deaths, on top of the Archbishop, devastated Jean. She seriously considered leaving El Salvador, and was prompted to over and over by friends and family, but she believed that God wanted her there for a reason, and her work was not yet done.
Three months before Jean died, she went on a holiday. Visiting her parents and her fiancé, and catching up with friends, I wonder if she knew she would never see them again. It is said that after prayers one night she confessed to her parents that she was afraid she may be killed. When she returned from holidays, she went on with the work she had been doing, burying the dead, consoling the grieving etc.
Three months before Jean died, she went on a holiday. Visiting her parents and her fiancé, and catching up with friends, I wonder if she knew she would never see them again. It is said that after prayers one night she confessed to her parents that she was afraid she may be killed. When she returned from holidays, she went on with the work she had been doing, burying the dead, consoling the grieving etc.
Memorial mural in El Salvador On 2 December, 1980 Jean drove to the airport to pick up two nuns, Sister Ita and Sister Maura. Sister Dorothy was also with her. This was the last time they were seen alive. Two days later, their bodies were discovered in a ditch about 15 miles from the airport. All had been viciously raped and shot at close range. Jean’s face was destroyed from the bullet wound. It is said that the military had them killed, as the work they were doing to help the poor was considered a threat to the control of the Salvadoran military. After an intensive investigation, it was found that their death was ordered from a high branch of the military – and that it was soldiers who committed the atrocities.
It was the death of these four religious ladies, who only ever did good for the poor, that sparked the question of why the United States was funding overseas militia.
It was the death of these four religious ladies, who only ever did good for the poor, that sparked the question of why the United States was funding overseas militia.
Peet Banks 2014
Put together by Ashley Hall 2014
Put together by Ashley Hall 2014
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