Jean Donovan — Faith That Stayed
In keeping with the St. Thomas Lenten homily series theme of The Radical Way of Discipleship, the office of Outreach and Social Justice will share the stories of ordinary people who embraced the principles of Catholic Social Teaching and became radical servants.
Jean Donovan was an ordinary young woman with an extraordinary courage. Serving as a lay missionary with the Maryknoll community in El Salvador during a time of brutal violence, Jean could have left when the danger grew. Instead, she stayed — accompanying the poor, comforting the fearful and trusting that love was stronger than fear.
Jean once wrote, “I want to be the one to respond to need,” That response ultimately cost her life. In 1980, she was murdered alongside three religious sisters. Jean’s life reminds us that radical service does not always look dramatic; sometimes it looks like staying present, faithful and compassionate when walking away would be easier. She reminds us that radical servants risk comfort, stand with the vulnerable and let their faith be known by actions.
