The Historical Marker outside of
Chaminade Julienne's Roger Glass Stadium:
Sister Dorothy Stang, SNDdeN - Ohio Historical Marker
Reflection Site #1: The Story of Sister Dorothy's Death
Reflection: We stand with all who remember Sister Dorothy Stang’s life and pray with all who have died, for the sake of the gospel.
On February 12, 2005, Dorothy was walking along a dirt road on her way to a meeting. She called out to a farmer at his door, "Cicero, I'm ready. Are you?"
"My daughter is sick, and I don't want to leave her," he told her. "My wife should be back any minute. I will follow you as soon as she returns.”
Dorothy replied, "OK. I hope your daughter feels better. Meet me as soon as you can."
A fine mist was falling as Dorothy walked on. She carried her cloth bag, which held her Bible, her maps, and some papers. She moved briskly because of the rain. Cicero left his house a few minutes later. He walked fast, trying to catch up with her.
At a bend in the road, Dorothy saw two men step out of the forest; they had been spreading grass seed for cattle. She wondered what they were doing there so early in the morning. She greeted them and passed by. One of the men called out: “Irma Dorothea” ("Sister Dorothy!)" (Pronounced Ear-ma Doro-chee)
She turned around and saw that he had a gun. She pulled a Bible from her bag and held up the other hand as if to ward off a blow. She began to read aloud the Beatitudes.
Cicero was catching up to Dorothy just as the first shot rang out. He jumped behind a tree and watched Dorothy fall to the ground face down. One of the men walked over to her and fired five more shots into her body. "Oh my God," Cicero whispered. "They've shot Sister Dorothy." (PAUSE)
Beatitude: Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Pope Francis: I dream of an Amazon region that fights for the rights of the poor, the original peoples and the least of our brothers and sisters, where their voices can be heard and their dignity advanced (Querida Amazonia #7)
Sister Dorothy: I do not want to flee, nor do I want to abandon the battle of the farmers who live without any protection in the forest.
Together we pray:
Sister Dorothy and all martyrs, pray for our courage to respond to the needs of our day and time. May we comfort all those who mourn.
(Full text of Historical Marker - you may wish to read this aloud, or each participant read the marker silently.)
Source: Remarkable Ohio from Ohio History Connection
21-57 Sister Dorothy Stang SNDdeN (1931-2005)
Side A: Born on June 7, 1931 in Dayton to Edna and Henry Stang, Dorothy Mae was the fourth of nine children. She attended Julienne High School and entered religious life with the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in 1948. She professed final vows in 1956 and worked as an elementary school teacher in Chicago and Phoenix before beginning her ministry in Brazil in 1966. There, she worked with the Pastoral Land Commission, an organization that fights for the rights of rural workers and peasants, as well as defending land reforms. Over the next 40 years, Dorothy continued to live out and share the Gospel, the foundation of her life. In addition to her work supporting land reform, she opened 39 schools, founded 35 faith communities and educated women and helped them obtain viable jobs. (Continued on other side)
Side B: (Continued from other side) On February 12, 2005, at the age of 73, Dorothy was on her way to meet with Braziliam farmers whose homes had been burned down when two gunman approached her and killed her as she recited the Beatitudes from the Bible. Her death cam less than one weekafter she had met with Brazil’s human rights officials about threats to local farmers from ranchers and logging companies. The effects of Dorothy’s work continue to bloom through those whom she has inspired to serve. She believed, “We can’t talk about the poor. We must be poor with the poor and then there is no doubt about how to act.”
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