20th Anniversary of Br. James Miller’s Assassination Prompts Memorials and Reflection

Brother James Miller, FSC
(1945–1982)

February 13, 2002 will mark the 20th anniversary of the death of Brother James Miller, FSC. Born in Wisconsin in 1945, he taught high school in the Midwest for several years before going to Nicaragua. Then he went to Guatemala where he taught English, religion and Guatemalan art to secondary students. Aware of the oppression of the indigenous peoples of Guatemala and of their need to be trained both in job skills and leadership skills, Br. James helped to begin an experimental farm where indigenous students learned agricultural methods and improvements. More importantly, Br. James prepared native leaders for rural areas who would work for collective development in their villages.

On February 13, 1982 Br. James was shot and killed by four masked gunmen while mending a wall outside the Casa Indigena Huehueteca where he worked.

At the website for the Midwest District of the Brother of the Christian Schools, one can find available for downloading a prayer service to celebrate the life of Br. James, an icon available for purchase, and additional information including what some schools are planning in commemoration of the anniversary.

The Diocese of LaCrosse, Wisconsin, sponsors annually an event during which a special award is given out to someone from the diocese: The Brother James Miller Social Justice Award. This year the event will take place at the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point on Brother James Miller Day—February 10, 2002.

Brother Paul Joslin, FSC, a Baltimore District Brother, will be a guest speaker during a panel discussion at that event. Br. Paul lived and worked with Br. James in Guatemala at the time of his assassination. To dowload Br. Paul’s speech, which celebrates the life of Br. James and chronicles his untimely death, click here.

Br. Paul concludes his speech by quoting Archbishop Roach who said that Brother James (Santiago) “took young people from the hills that had no chance and gave them a combination of hope and life…I hope that others (like you and I) will rise up to take the young by the hand and lead them to freedom.”