About Sister Dorothy Stang
A citizen of Brazil and the United States, Sister Dorothy spent nearly four decades defending the rights of poor settlers as well as working to save the rain forest from powerful ranchers bent on destroying it. On February 12, 2005, less than a week after meeting with the country's human rights officials about threats to local farmers from loggers and landowners, she was shot by hired gunmen and left to die on a muddy country road. She was 73 years old.
Before her murder, Sister Dorothy was named "Woman of the Year" by the state of Para for her work in the Amazon region. She also received the Humanitarian of the Year award from the Brazilian Bar Association for her work helping the local rural workers. Her ministry partnered with the Pastoral Land Commission, an organization of the Catholic Church that fights for the rights of rural workers and peasants, and defends land reforms in Brazil.
Since her death, Sister Dorothy has been widely honored for her life and work by the United States Congress and by a number of colleges and universities across the United States. She was posthumously awarded the 2008 United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights. Books, movies, documentaries and an opera have been developed about her. She has also been formally recognized by the Vatican as a modern day martyr.
Sister Dorothy was born in Dayton, Ohio, one of nine children. She was raised on a farm in a traditional Catholic family. She entered the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur community in 1948 and professed perpetual vows in 1956. From 1951 to 1966 she taught elementary classes at St. Victor School in Calumet City, IL; St. Alexander School in Villa Park, IL; and Most Holy Trinity School in Phoenix, AZ. She began her ministry in Brazil in 1966, in Coroata in the state of Maranhao.
Dorothy Stang General Resource Contact
Sister Judi Clemens, SNDdeN (Cincinnati, OH)
- Presentation: Sharing my life with Dorothy Stang in Brazil and how I remember her today, depending on what the audience desires.
- Description: Dorothy Stang was a woman of faith on a mission and to know her was to know her mission.
- Contact Information: 513-827-7455
Video Resources (To view more videos of Sister Dorothy Stang and her legacy, view our Youtube Channel).
Witness to Justice
Amazonia, Dorothy Stang's Struggle by Net for God
Dorothy Stang Legacy Continues...
Kathleen Gandalfo's new book, Ecomartyrdom in the Americas, highlights the courageous legacy of those defending the earth, such as Sister Dorothy Stang and Berta Cáceres, linking their work to ecomartyrdom. In discussing these modern-day martyrs, Gandalfo examines the church's role in justice and environmental care, calling for a faith-driven commitment to protect the planet and its most vulnerable communities.
Discover the inspiring life of Sister Dorothy Stang, SNDdeN, whose steadfast dedication to justice and the environment left a lasting legacy. From her ministry in Brazil to the opera and artwork inspired by her, Sister Dorothy's work continues to impact communities worldwide. Her story of courage, compassion, and faith is celebrated through a new exhibit and ongoing efforts to protect the Amazon and uplift those made poor.
ister Isabelle Izika, SNDdeN, was honored to attend the dedication Mass for the new tapestry "Into Light and Truth: Holy People of the Americas" at Saint Francis Xavier Parish, NYC. The tapestry, featuring Sister Dorothy Stang, SNDdeN, celebrates holy figures who fought for justice. Artist John Nava emphasized that continuing this work now rests with younger generations. The tapestry serves as a reminder of our shared responsibility to carry on their legacy.
by Sster Katheryne Webster, SNDdeN The Forest Pilgrimage dawned clear and hot in Ana...
Join us in celebrating the inspiring legacy of Sister Dorothy Stang, as remembered by her fellow Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in Springfield, Ohio. Discover how Sr. Dorothy’s mission for justice, deep spirituality, and love for God continue to inspire and bear fruit, through heartfelt stories, community events, and ongoing projects that honor her life and work.
congratulate St. X faculty and student body, you are truly “soulmates of Dorothy Stang”! This is not the first time for the Sister Dorothy Stang Award presentation in these hallowed halls. Here solidarity reverberates with Dorothy’s faith, wisdom and action. After Dorothy was martyred in 2005, we Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur and the Archdiocese of Cincinnati partnered to continue Dorothy’s legacy. We seek to recognize teachers, staff and students who foster Dorothy’s lived values of solidarity with the poor, care for the earth and love of Jesus Christ and His mission.