Sister Dorothy's Childhood Home

Reflection Site #3:  Childhood Stories
(Private Residence)

Reflection: Dorothy Stang was born in 1931 in Shiloh, Ohio, a rural community just outside the city of Dayton. She was the fourth of nine children of Henry and Edna Stang, and was affectionately called Dot. A large family like Dot's was not unusual in this part of Ohio, where many Catholic families lived. Everyone who knew the Stangs, admired their strong faith and Church participation. Mom Edna made time to care for sick neighbors and cousins. Dad Henry graduated from the University of Dayton and worked as a chemical engineer and a gardener.

Dot was known as the neighborhood "Pied Piper," attracting many friends to play in her backyard. She was a good athlete, and natural "leader" in the family.  Some described her as "feisty" and even "ornery" at times, and always loving an escapade.

One summer day, when Dot was ten she was dutifully practicing the piano in a room overlooking the backyard. She heard bees buzzing outside; the scent of honeysuckle drifted in. She had promised her mother she would practice for thirty minutes. She squirmed on the piano stool and sighed. 

Overcome by the tedium of piano practice and knowing her bike was just outside, Dot opened the window screen and climbed out. She jumped a few feet to the ground, grabbed the bike, and sped down the rolling hill in front of her house. "Whoopee, I'm free!" she shouted. The breeze ruffled her hair, and the bike seemed to sail. I'll go back soon, she promised herself. There'll be only fifteen minutes left when I return.

At that moment, she hit a bump and flew over the handlebars, landing face first. She sat up and moved her legs, then her hands and arms. Nothing seemed to be broken. She touched her chin and felt blood. When she tried to wipe the blood from her mouth, she found a dangling front tooth! Oh boy, she thought. This will be hard to explain.

Not hearing piano music, Edna had gone outside to look for her daughter, just in time to see Dot walking the bike back up the drive.  Dot’s head was hanging down and she was holding something in her hand. Her mother looked at the scrapes and the bloody chin. She quickly took her daughter inside to clean her up. "I think you're in enough pain, so I'm not going to punish you," she said. "However, Dot, I hope you'll think about this next time you decide to cut practice."

Call to Prayer: Take a moment to reflect on your own childhood homes and summer days of play. What were your favorite places in nature to explore? Recall times when you adventured or explored, and perhaps got into mischief.  Take a moment to be grateful for those who forgave you, understood and supported you.  Take a moment to be aware of young people in your life and your prayers and concerns for them. How might you companion them in prayer? How might you nurture and support their hopes and dreams for our world?    

Beatitude: Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God.

Pope Francis: The entire material universe speaks of God’s love and boundless affection for us. Soil, water, mountains: everything is, as it were, a caress of God (LS #84)

Sister Dorothy: I know they want to kill me, but I will not go away. My place is here alongside these people who are constantly humiliated by persons who consider themselves powerful.

Together we pray:
Sister Dorothy and all martyrs, pray for our courage to respond to the needs of our day and time. May our hearts radiate God’s love for all to see.