Sisters who served in Brazil with Sister Dorothy Stang collaborate each year with the parish in Springfield, OH. Left to right: Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur Judith Clemens, Rebeca Spires, JoAnn Depweg, Ani Whibley and seated Joan Krimm
by Sister Judith Clemens, SNDdeN
At Sr. Dorothy’s burial a friend and farm worker exclaimed: “Dorothy is not buried today, she is planted to bear fruit.”
Celebration in Springfield, Ohio
Many celebrations of Sr. Dorothy and her legacy are happening this year, as usual, in large venues as well as in small worship communities. One such event took place, as it has for 18 years, at St. Raphael/St. Joseph Parish in Springfield, Ohio. Parish support for Sister Dorothy’s ministry began many years before her death. It is no accident that São Rafael is also the name of the ministry center in Anapu, Pará, Brazil! T his year’s event at St. Raphael/St. Joseph Parish was the first time since the Covid pandemic that the parish was able to welcome the people to an in-person gathering. The pastor described St. Raphael/St. Joseph Parish as a Laudato Si community, so much in-sync with Pope Francis’ Encyclical. In the parish, a creative Pastoral Associate, Katie Sahle is a real blessing. She shares and showcases monthly in the narthex of the church the art exhibits from the parishioners and students from the local Catholic high school. To serve pizza at the exhibition always helps bring success to these projects.
For February 12, 2023, the Beatitudes hung above the entrance to the parish hall. The gathering opened with a special blessing. Around the hall were informational stations about Sr. Dorothy, from current postings on the Ohio Province Website. Katie thought that the station about the owl named for Dorothy was the best attraction. So, owl-shaped cookies were available and decorated by the children in attendance.
SNDdeN Presence and Sister Dorothy's Legacy
Sisters Joan Krimm, JoAnn Depweg and Judith Clemens accepted the invitation to join the parish via Zoom and to share stories about their own religious vocations, their community experience with Sister Dorothy in Coroatá, Maranhão and how her legacy continues to speak to our world today.
Sister Dorothy's focus was her mission to the people and their cry for justice. This call found its home in her deep spirituality and ever-evolving relationship with God. She never worried about herself. When she is remembered as an environmentalist it is important to ask WHY.
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| At the entrance to a new section in the Catholic Cemetery in Dayton, Ohio, where they name the roads for various saints, the Board of the Cemetery has a new road, named SISTER DOROTHY STANG WAY. |
Sister Dorothy had a deep love of God and God's creation. She was passionate about all that God created. Her integrity calls us to the same mission today, as we become Laudato Si' communities. Sister Dorothy's love of her good God revealed itself in her belief in the goodness of everyone she met. Dorothy addressed each in the same manner: her beloved peasant communities and family farmers and also the two men who would kill her the next day. She challenged everyone to touch into goodness. Sister Dorothy is a martyr and not a victim of murder. A victim's life is taken away; Sister Dorothy gave her life as she held the Bible and recited the Beatitudes, proclaiming the saving love of God.
Ongoing Projects
Sister Dorothy's story continues to attract a wide variety of researchers to learn about her and her legacy. A couple of years ago a young Notre Dame University student asked to learn more about Sister Dorothy for a theology research paper. She challenged Pope Francis not to engage in the full process for canonization for Sister Dorothy because young people show an urgency to know the lives of modern-day saints. A Southern Caifornia theatre writer and director is working on a novel inspired by her story. He had never heard of Sister Dorothy, but viewing a video where she is mentioned briefly, he felt called to know more. For his initial research, he used search engines and found much information online and that brought him to contact Sisters Joan and Judith. Through a series of Zoom calls, the Sisters shared more about Sister Dorothy with him and eventually he forwarded a draft of his novel for input and ideas. He is now in the phase of seeking a publisher.
Who knows where Sister Dorothy's legacy will touch hearts tomorrow?
First published in Good Works, Volume 19 No. 1. March 2023