Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur continue to live and work in the Amazon rainforest among the materially poor.
This site tells the Sisters' stories and the stories of others who have been inspired by Sr. Dorothy Stang's life, faith and courage.
Her murder was not the end...
Sr. Dorothy Stang
1931 - 2005
One Million Trees Project
Sr. Dorothy Still Inspires . . .
- Learn about the "Angel of the Amazon" opera by composer Evan Mack.
- Spanish speakers: the Christian Life Community in Madrid, Spain, produced this beautiful and informative PDF about Sr. Dorothy using a variety of web sources. Enjoy!
- A video remembrance of Sr. Dorothy from UK film producer Sam Clements who met Dorothy in 2003.
- A grassroots group in Belem, Brazil, called the Dorothy Committe writes this blog sharing trial news, editorials and events in the Amazon.Though it's written in Portugese, there is a translation feature (look midway down the righ-hand column).
- Artist Sr. Margaret Hoffman recently completed a series of nine paintings depicting the beauty of the Amazon rainforest with words by Sr. Dorothy Stang. To purchase a set of prints, please print this order form and mail with your check.
News from Brazil . . .
Dorothy taught that whenever you take something from the forest, you give something back to it. While the illegal logging continues, the Sisters and many in the Anapu community felt it was time to give back in a big way. They have commited themselves to planting one million seedlings to help reforest the area.
Some seedlings are started from seeds harvested in the forest; others like mahogany, are purchased. All the work is done on a volunteer basis.
Financial support is needed!! $15 covers the cost of growing one seedling in the nurseries in the forest.
To help us reforest the Amazon, send checks payable to the Sisters of Notre Dame to:
Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur
Congregational Mission Office
MILLION TREE PROJECT
30 Jeffrey's Neck Road
Ipswich, MA 01938 USA
Much as Sr. Dorothy's life and murder touched the lives of many and continues to give strength to those continuing the fight, the recent murders of Amazon land activists Zé Cláudio Rebeiro da Silva and Maria do Espirito Santo have touched many hearts. Their story, and the story of the land struggles in the Amazon, are very ably documented in a video by VICE called "Toxic:Amazon". Producer Bernardo Loyola says, "Ultimately the problem boils down to the incredible disparity in the distribution of wealth, the distribution of land ownership and outright greed."
Amazon land activists, Maria and Zé Cláudio
murdered May 24, 2011, in Brazil.
As the anniversary of Sr. Dorothy's murder approaches we wanted to share with you a story just published in St. Anthony Messenger featuring two Sisters of Notre Dame who knew and worked with Dorothy:
"Maria Tecla di Silva Gaia is evidence of the continuation of the song of Sister Dorothy Stang. Tecla is a Brazilian who entered Sister Dorothy’s order, the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, 10 years ago. She is a joyful, earthy presence, with a laugh as light as sunshine on the forest floor." read more
A Video Worth Watching
