DOROTHY STANG: WOMEN OF FAITH – EPISODE 3

In today’s episode of Women of Faith, we will talk about a woman of remarkable faith and dedication. Dorothy Stang was an exemplary woman who dedicated her life to preaching God’s greatest commandment of love. Also, her love did not only go to humans but also to Mother Earth herself.

Dorothy Stang lived from June 7, 1931, to February 12, 2005, as a champion of social justice and equality. Sister Dorothy served God by protecting all his creations. Her journey and deeds are inspiring; she is a true woman of faith and a role model to all Christian women. Let us dive into the life of this incredible woman of faith.

Early life and faith journey:

Dorothy Stang was born on June 7, 1931, in Dayton, Ohio, one of nine children raised on a farm in a traditional Catholic family. In 1948 At age 17 and a month old, she joined the sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, and in 1956, she made her final vows. From the moment she met the saints of Notre Dame, she believed she had been called to work for God.

The priorities of the sisters of Notre Dame were in line with her goals, so she was more than happy to be a part of the movement. From 1951 to 1966, she taught elementary classes in several schools. In 1966, she moved to Brazil, and together with sisters of Notre Dame, she began to help the poor folks living in the areas of Coroata, Maranho, and the Amazon Forest.

Environmental Advocacy for Amazon:

Sister Dorothy Stang spent most of her life defending the Amazon Rain Forest. She dedicated her life to protecting the Brazilian rainforest from depletion by agriculture. However, Dorothy was frustrated by the activities of illegal loggers and land grabbers destroying the rainforest. She campaigned against these companies; she was their greatest opponent throughout her lifetime.

Defender of the poor:

Dorothy Stang chose to live in poverty so she could help those in extreme poverty. For this reason, She joined the Sisters of Notre Dame, a movement that had a clear preference for working among the poor, as a clear indication of her intention to help the needy.

Sister Dorothy Stang moved to Brazil to help poor farmers living in the Amazon Rain Forest build sustainable lives. She thought the locals sustainable farming techniques. Sister Dorothy lived and worked in Brazil for nearly 40 years.

Throughout this period, she supported her community, helping to build healthcare and improving the community by emphasizing the importance of education. She helped the communities of the Amazon tackle the problem of illegal loggers and land grabbers. unfortunately, Dorothy Stang was listed on a kill list made by the men of the underground who worked with the illegal loggers. However, this did not deter her from advocating for the rights of the locals.

Martyr for justice:

As Dorothy Stang’s work progressed, she made lots of enemies in the Brazilian underworld. Unfortunately, on February 12, 2005, while going to a meeting, she was confronted by men who had been following her. The men asked her if she had a weapon, and she replied that her only weapon would be the Bible with her.

As she was convinced of her death, she read a passage from the Beatitudes: “Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” The gunmen proceeded to shoot her several times, resulting in her death. She was 73 years old when she was murdered.

The Legacy of Dorothy Stang:

In the last year of her life, she was granted nationalized citizenship in Brazil. Officials of the state of Para also gave her “the Woman of the Year award.” For her entire life, she was a defender of the poor. Upon her death, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio da Silva put almost 20,000 of the Amazon’s 1.6 million square miles under the protection of the federal environment.

The Land is in the Anapu region, where Dorothy Stang’s home was. This action energized human rights activists, environmentalists, and the sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. Even in death, the people of the Anapu region continue to work in the tradition of their role model, Sister Dorothy. Several thousand people attended her burial, and in 2008, she was awarded a posthumous human rights prize from the United Nations.

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conclusion:

Dorothy Stang’s story is a powerful example of faith-driven action. In a world facing environmental challenges, she remained a beacon of hope for the homeless and hopeless. Her inspiring story is one of courage. Christian women around the world should look up to an exemplary role model like Dorothy Stang. Join us next Wednesday as we will be discussing another wonderful woman of faith.

Content Credit/ Ajibola Emanuel Adebayo

Picture Credit/ https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00nkzz9

https://vocationnetwork.org/en/articles/show/12-sister-dorothy-stang-her-dying-shows-us-how-to-live

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/sister-dorothy-stang-brazil_n_6679360