Dot Stang

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Sr. Dorothy "Dot" Stang, SNDdeN
July 7, 1931 - February 12, 2005
Sister of Notre Dame de Namur
Humanitarian & Martyr

Press Release · Dorothy's Life · Resources · Links

Press Releases

Press Release (5/7/08):
Accused Killers of Ohio Sister of Notre Dame de Namur Dorothy Stang Retried in Brazil; One Sentence Upheld, One Reversed

Press Release (3/12/08):
Sister Dorothy Stang Film Wins Two Awards at South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival

Press Release (12/17/07):
Raifran Das Neves Sales Gets New Trial

Press Release (10/23/07):
Sentence of Killer of Sister of Notre Dame de Namur Upheld in Retrial

Press Release (5/15/07):
Brazilian Found Guilty of Ordering Murder of Sister of Notre Dame de Namur Dorothy Stang (photo to right: Sister Jo Anne Depweg, SNDdeN, (center) rejoices that justice is served with the conviction of Vitalmiro Bastos de Moura. Photo by Camila Lima.)

Dorothy's Life

Sister of Notre Dame de Namur Dorothy "Dot" Stang, moved to Brazil 40 years ago to help the poor build independent futures for their families. She was shot to death Saturday, February 12, in Anapu, Para, a section of Brazil's Amazon rain forest.

A citizen of Brazil and the United States, Sister Dorothy worked 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. Her death came less than a week after meeting with the country’s human rights officials about threats to local farmers from loggers and landowners.

After receiving several death threats Sister Dorothy recently commented, “I don’t want to flee, nor do I want to abandon the battle of these farmers who live without any protection in the forest. They have the sacrosanct right to aspire to a better life on land where they can live and work with dignity while respecting the environment.”

Sister Dorothy, 73, was born in Dayton, Ohio. She entered the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur community in 1948 and professed final 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.

In June 2004, Sister Dorothy was named “Woman of the Year” by the state of Para for her work in the Amazon region. In December 2004, she received the Humanitarian of the Year award from the Brazilian Bar Association for her work helping the local rural workers. In early 2005, she received an “Honorary Citizenship of the State” award from the state of Para. Burial services were held in Anapu in the Brazilian state of Para.

Resources