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 Ursuline Sisters – Sr. Dorothy Kazel “The Life and Example of Jean Donovan” The Maura Clarke – Ita Ford Center Interreligious Task ForceShare Foundation – 25 th Anniversary Resources COAR News articles: Sr. Dorothy's work with refugee children at COAR's beginning, honored 25 years later. The play Missionaries, inspired by the lives and deaths of the Four Churchwomen:   Sr. Ita Ford, M.M.Maryknoll Sister Ita Ford came from Brooklyn, New York. She joined the Maryknoll order in her early thirties after a career as an editor at a publishing company. She first went to work in Chile in 1973 during a time of much political unrest. When Archbishop Romero put out a request for more assistance, Sr. Ita came to El Salvador and began work in Chalatenango helping the poor and homeless. 
Sr. Maura Clarke, M.M. Sr. Maura Clarke, who was also from New York, came to El Salvador by the same means. Sr. Maura had spent many years in Nicaragua, helping heal the people during natural disasters and the political disaster in their everyday life. She also took up the call by Archbishop Romero for help, and began to work with Sr. Ita with her work. In November of 1980, the two sisters traveled to Nicaragua for a regional conference. Sadly, it was on their return from this experience that the sisters work came to a tragic end. The work of these sisters will be forever remembered as well as their commitment to their work in the face of danger. |
Portraits: -Lay Missioner Jean Donovan (top left) -Maryknoll Sister Ita Ford (top right) -Maryknoll Sister Maura Clarke (bottom left) -Ursuline Sister Dorothy Kazel (bottom right) Sr. Dorothy at a refugee camp, 1980 Graves of the women Jean and Sr. Dorothy, forever young Sr. Dorothy Kazel and Jean Donovan served on the Cleveland Diocese Latin American Mission Team along with COAR's founder Fr. Ken Myers. Dorothy Kazel served several years in Zaragoza. 
Sister Dorothy Kazel, O.S.U. Sister Dorothy came to El Salvador as part of the Cleveland Diocesan Latin American Mission Team (or CLAM) in 1974. She began her work serving parishes in Chirilagua, La Union, La Libertad, and other outlying areas, such as Zaragoza. Sister Dorothy helped prepare for liturgical celebrations and develop lay leaders within the parish communities. Political corruption and civil war tension began to mount in early 1977 and the work of many missionaries began to shift. Sister Dorothy started to work distributing supplies and finding shelter and medical attention for refugees. She worked with Fr. Ken Myers, fellow CLAM member and founder of COAR, to help find places for refugee children to stay. The death of Sister Dorothy Kazel in El Salvador has forever linked the country with the Greater Cleveland community. Her legacy has been the catalyst behind many organizations that have formed to promote social justice in Central America. 
Jean Donovan
Jean Donovan grew up in Westport, Connecticut. She moved to Cleveland to obtain her master's degree at Case Western Reserve University and began work at a local accounting firm. While volunteering for the Cleveland Diocese Youth Ministry, she heard about the mission project in El Salvador run by the diocese. Jean was compelled by the mission and entered into the Maryknoll lay missionary training course. In 1979, she was stationed in El Salvador, working closely with Sister Dorothy Kazel. Jean used her skills as an accountant to help programs and also worked to distribute supplies to refugees. She was devoted to Archbishop Oscar Romero and would attend his masses as often as she could. Upon his assassination in March of 1980, Jean considered leaving El Salvador but wrote that she “almost could except for the children, the poor bruised victims of this insanity”. Jean will always be remembered for her carefree spirit and her commitment to the people of El Salvador. |
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