In memory of Sister Dorothy Mae Stang
Twenty years after her death, remembrance of Sister Dorothy Mae Stang, killed defending her Amazon rainforest
She was an American missionary nun, Sister Dorothy Mae Stang.
She returned to the Father’s House 20 years ago, but she is still remembered. Above all, she remained in the hearts of Brazil’s indigenous peoples, for whom she fought until the end.
She was killed, in fact, by six gunshots, for her passionate battle against deforestation.
Laudato si’, Pope Francis’ encyclical on care for the common home, had not yet been written on Feb. 12, 2005, nor had the Synod of Bishops for the Pan-Amazonian region been celebrated, but she was already on the front lines defending her beloved forest.
A stumbling block for landowners and entrepreneurs, Sister Dorothy courageously continued to challenge them and thwart their trades.
She was part of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Namur and had been in Brazil since 1966, where she died with a Bible in her hand. She is buried in the Boa Esperança camp in Anapu (Pará State), where she will live forever.
On January 10, the Community of Sant’Egidio organized-in the shrine of the New Martyrs of St. Bartholomew on the Island-a vigil in her memory, 20 years after her martyrdom.
It was an opportunity to review his life and works, including founding a local union, fighting illiteracy and promoting the construction of 23 schools.
He taught farmers sustainable farming techniques and conveyed the importance of protecting their forest and their rights. To women he taught public policies in the areas of motherhood, health and sexuality.
To all, indiscriminately, he gave the gift of deepening the Word.
She constantly received death threats and knew that sooner or later they would hurt her, but at the cost of her life she advanced her cause and spread her message of protecting the environment and people’s rights.
This was her mission. Witness of faith and hope forever.
Source
Imagine
- Vatican News