The Story of Sister Dorothy Stang

Who was murdered by two gunmen

Sister Dorothy Stang dedicated her life to fighting for justice for the poor and landless in the Amazon rainforest of Brazil.

As an advocate for sustainable development and human rights, Dorothy stood up to the powerful logging and cattle ranching interests who were destroying the rainforest and displacing its people.

Though she faced threats to her own safety, Dorothy never wavered in her commitment to nonviolent resistance and empowering the marginalized.

Early Life and Ministry

Dorothy Stang was born in Dayton, Ohio in 1931. As a young woman, she felt called to missionary work, writing on her application to become a Sister of Notre Dame de Namur that she wanted to serve in China. Ultimately, Dorothy spent nearly 40 years as a missionary in Brazil.

When Dorothy first arrived in Brazil in 1966, she focused on language learning and training lay leaders. It soon became clear that the people suffered from oppression and violence, especially small farmers who were losing their land. Dorothy b…