Sr. Dorothy Stang

The Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur owe Paul Jeffrey a great debt of gratitude for his article "The legacy of an eco-martyr" (NCR, July 11). Sr. Dorothy Stang, the eco-martyr, would have been happy with his focus on her mission rather than her person. It was the people who were important to Dorothy, people who were growing in awareness of their God-given dignity. She brought them hope for a better future for themselves and their families. During the last few decades of Dorothy's time in Brazil, she became enraptured by the presence of God in all of creation, especially as manifested in the Amazon forest--"these noble trees." Her movement toward oneness with God was rooted in her love of the people and her love of the forest. Her life and martyrdom witness marvelously to the balance of contemplation and action so needed for discipleship in today's global society. Thank you, Paul Jeffrey, for telling her story. Thank you, NCR, for bringing this story to your readers.

(Sr.) ELIZABETH BOWYER, SNDdeN

Cincinnati

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