Fr. Darrell Rupiper , O.M.I.

Protester. Prisoner. Priest. All of these words describe the same man — Fr. Darrell Rupiper, O.M.I. A Missionary Oblate since 1958, he has devoted his life to promoting equality and care for all of humanity — he calls it “building God’s Kingdom.”

His passion first began when he was sent to serve the poor in Brazil. As he wrote in an article for La Vista Visions, an Oblate ecological publication, “my time. . . in Brazil was a life-changer. Nothing could have prepared this Iowa farm boy for the shock of the human misery I encountered or the resulting pathos that surged within me.” During the four and a half years Fr. Darrell served in Brazil, he was arrested, imprisoned, and finally expelled from the country by the military government.

The suffering of the Brazilian people deeply impacted Fr. Darrell, and when he returned to the United States, he was passionate about working to overturn injustices in the world. He worked with the homeless, protested the nuclear arms race (which led to arrests and prison terms), and even traveled to Tehran twice during the Iran hostage crisis.

Fr. Darrell thought he knew his calling as an Oblate. He was to “leave nothing undared” in the name of justice and peace. Yet, when he met Fr. Thomas Berry, C.P., an expert in ecological studies, his outlook changed. Fr. Berry spoke to Fr. Darrell and told him he appreciated the work he was doing, but he was “missing the boat.” Fr. Darrell explained, “He told me nothing is more important than saving the Earth. No issue is more important — not stopping wars, not ending starvation, not finding a cure for AIDS — nothing. Our Mother Earth must be our top priority.”

Through research, Fr. Darrell became aware of humanity’s destruction to the environment. He also read the works of Pope John Paul II, who spoke out against ecological abuse. “John Paul II said we have not been good stewards of creation. He points to us in the western world and says it is our addiction to consumerism, to comfort, and to convenience that is destroying our home and ourselves.”

Still a fervent fighter for justice, Fr. Darrell is finishing up a three-year traveling ministry. As a part of the Oblate Ecological Initiative (OEI), he has been visiting Oblate parishes and institutions, where he preaches “Eco-Missions.” As Fr. Darrell explains, “The missions are designed to be spiritual experiences and consciousness -raising events as well as a springboard to action.”

Fr. Darrell says everyone is called to take a “stubborn stand” for the future of the human and Earth community. He is currently at his 32nd parish. He believes his work follows the teachings of St. Eugene. “St. Eugene was a man of his times. He read the signs of the times and organized around that, and we must see the signs of the times now.”

Fr. Darrell’s mission tells everyone it is time to take action to preserve Mother Earth before it is too late.