February 14, 2005

By ANDREW DOWD
Journal staff

POLONIA - For the Miller family of Ellis, Feb. 13 marks the day one of their own died while trying to make life better for the people of Guatemala.

The youngest of the three brothers, Ralph Miller, 54, always remembers the day when his family heard news of James' death.

"That was a hard day to take," he said.

Brother James Miller died Feb. 13, 1982, after four gunmen shot him as he was repairing a wall outside of a schoolhouse in Guatemala.

On Sunday, about 80 people gathered at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Polonia to celebrate the life and charitable work of Brother James Miller.

Even when they were children, Ralph remembers that his brother wanted to be a priest.

"He always had that in his mind," Ralph said.

When he started doing missionary work in South and Central America, he would return to visit his family in Ellis and tell them what he had been doing. Though he told his family about the fire department and schools he helped build in Nicaragua and the farm he started in Guatemala, he never spoke of the dangers he faced.

"One thing he never told us was how bad it was down there," Ralph said.

The setting of the 23rd Annual Brother Miller Day, previously held at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and Pacelli High School, was changed to the church to which the Miller family belongs.

Though they are originally attendees of St. Martin's in Ellis, that church has since been suppressed, and Miller's surviving family and many parishioners attend Sacred Heart Parish in Polonia.

"We thought it was appropriate to have it here at the home parish," said Arthur Hippler, director of the office of justice and peace for the Diocese of La Crosse.

One thing missing from this year's celebration was an award given to a community member in honor of Brother Miller's memory. Since the diocese won't have an acting bishop until March 1, that award could not be officially granted.

One addition to the ceremony was a painting of Brother Miller commissioned by the diocese and the Brother Miller Day Committee. The image depicts Brother Miller clutching a wrench in one hand and cradling bricks in the other arm with a golden halo behind his head.

This year's celebration featured Scripture readings, hymns and a speech by Brother Paul O'Donnell of the Franciscan Brothers of Peace in the Twin Cities.

The Franciscan Brothers shelter refugees from other countries that have been tortured. O'Donnell said their work today is a living memorial to Brother Miller.

"Today, the world of Brother James experienced still exists," O'Donnell said. "Not just in South and Central America, but all around the world."
O'Donnell compared the freedom to vote and practice religion in the United States to other countries where people are tortured for their political and religious views.

Of the estimated 400,000 victims of international torture, O'Donnell said 25,000 reside in the Twin Cities.

O'Donnell closed his speech by urging parishioners to honor the memory of Brother Miller.

"The best way to be a living memorial to Brother James is to leave here and do something," he said. "In your own community, there are people who can use your help."

Dowd can be reached at 345-2249 or adowd@cwnews.net.