Students from Mount Notre Dame High School have crafted powerful reflections on justice, service, and faith in action as part of their application to attend the historic honoring of Sister Dorothy Stang, SNDdeN, at the Basilica di San Bartolomeo all'Isola in Rome. Sister Dorothy dedicated her life to serving alongside communities in Brazil that were made poor and advocating for preserving the Amazon rainforest. Her ultimate sacrifice on February 12, 2005, standing firm in her commitment to justice, continues to inspire people worldwide. We will share one student's essay daily as we count down to February 12, 2025, the 20th anniversary of Sister Dorothy's martyrdom.
Caroline J.
I feel I should be chosen to participate in this trip because I am proud of my Catholic faith, and I desire to grow in my faith any chance I get. The opportunity to participate in this trip would allow me to learn more about the ministry, humility, and faith of Sister Dorothy Stang, which is truly inspiring. It would be a true privilege to attend the ceremony honoring Sister Dorothy and putting her relic on display because it would be an important reminder of how important her service was to those in need in the community. I would also love getting to learn about the lives of St. Clare and St. Francis of Assisi, two individuals who are huge inspirations to me of humble Christian living. One perspective I feel I will bring to the group is a strong sense of faith and reverence for the holy individuals that we will learn about over the course of the trip. Another quality I feel I will bring to the group is a sense of curiosity and desire for lifelong learning. Although not in the classroom, I feel that this trip will teach me a lot about what it means to be strong in your faith with God in mind at all times.
I'd describe Sister Dorothy Stang's life and mission as undaunted. From the moment I started learning about Sister Dorothy Stang my freshman year, I couldn't help but feel inspired by the courage she showed her entire life. Whether advocating for the Amazon rainforest or for peasants living in Brazil, Sister Dorothy was driven to make a difference, and she didn't let fear get in the way of that. Surely, she may have felt afraid at times, but what is so special about Sister Dorothy is that she knew God was always with her. Sr. Dorothy turned to her faith at all times, even when she was about to be killed. The fact that she read the Beatitudes to the men who killed her moments before her death is inspiring to me. Even when she received hatred for her faith, she knew that God was the source of her peace and joy, and she remained proud to share her faith through words and ministry. She is a huge inspiration for any Christians as we strive to walk in the faith.
The opportunity to witness Sister Dorothy's recognition as a Christian martyr is very moving to me because it would be a reminder that walking steadfastly in my faith might be difficult at times with outside pressures I face, but it is what God wants of me so that I can grow closer to Him and build a community of faith with those I live with, work with, and serve. Sister Dorothy's walk in faith led to the ultimate cost of death, but she did so with a heart of joy and focus on God. That is the ultimate inspiration of Christian/Catholic life for me as I do service work, as well as how I treat others in daily living. I can certainly see this experience deepening my faith and commitment to justice and peace because getting to hear more about Sister Dorothy will remind me to keep my faith near always. By learning about her service to the people of Brazil, I know I will feel more courage to peacefully advocate for issues I feel strongly about, just as Sister Dorothy did with a focus on Christ. For example, I feel the week-long experience would provide me more courage as I work to build beds with Sleep in Heavenly Peace, and her Christ-centered approach will allow me the strength to bring that to my service work with SHP, too.