Nearly 20 years after her death, Sister Dorothy Stang SNDdeN ‘49, will join other Christian martyrs from around the world by being recognized with a permanent memorial at the Basilica of St. Bartholomew on Tiber Island in Rome. The first woman from the United States to be so honored, Sister Dorothy was known by her love for God, God’s creation, and the farmers and their families in the Amazon jungles of Brazil with whom she lived and served for nearly 40 years before her death.
This ceremony, coordinated by the Community of Sant’Egidio, will take place on January 10, 2025, approximately one month before the anniversary of her death. Her memorial will include a relic that the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur have preserved through the years: a small amount of blood-soaked soil from the site of her martyrdom. The Sisters plan to hold a prayer service in advance of its transfer from their care to the memorial in Rome.
On February 12, 2005, Sister Dorothy was martyred in Anapu, Para, Brazil for her outspoken support of the environment and poor Brazilian farmers and their families who were continually subjected to abuse and oppression from loggers and landowners. In addition to her inclusion in the memorial in Italy, Sister Dorothy has been honored for her life’s work by the United Nations, United States Congress, and colleges and universities throughout the United States.
Chaminade Julienne plans to celebrate the life of Sister Dorothy with student-led activities as additional ways for students to learn more about her, and how she continues to inspire the CJ community. Students are first introduced to her during their freshman year by watching the film, “The Student, The Nun, and The Amazon”, according to Dr. Tim Dillon, religion teacher and department chair, and then continue to “meet” her during their time in high school in different ways and activities. As seniors, they participate in Senior Capstone, centered around student-created social justice projects, and present their projects at the Sister Dorothy Stang Symposium.
“CJ students know Sr. Dorothy Stang, the Angel of the Amazon, as their Saint for their time in history,” said Sr. Kathy Harmon, SNDdeN, provincial of the Ohio Province.
“Their hearts are set on fire by her choice to lay down her life for our sacred earth and for the people most in need of protection,” she said. “Following her witness, our students are committed to action that ensures life for our mother earth, all her creatures, and all God’s children. God is Good, and so are they!”
From “My Faith Sustains Me,” Sister Dorothy Stang, SNDdeN
“If we keep working, helping our people to grow with education, they will have the ability to speak up, organize and create within themselves a spirit guided by The Spirit and a new people. I might not see this day, but with the help of all of you, our people will grow in their understanding and caring for others.”
Upcoming Events
Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025 | 3 p.m. | Livestream link
The Sisters will have a relic prayer service. The reliquary, the container for the relic, will be commissioned during a private prayer service at Mount Notre Dame Chapel.
Friday, Jan. 10, 2025
Livestream broadcast of the relic ceremony in Rome on the Sisters’ website: Livestream Live
Here is a complete list of upcoming events honoring Sister Dorothy.
Article originally published in the Winter 2024 VISION magazine.