Ecology and Spirituality at Clarks Summit

Written on: July 28, 2015

How much do you know about climate change and its impact on us?   Have you had a chance to read Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Si (On Care for our Common Home)?   What changes are you willing to make in your daily life to help heal our home, Planet Earth, and preserve her for future generations?

Twenty-one Grey Nuns and Associates gathered for a weekend at the Passionists Sisters’ St. Gabriel retreat house near Clarks Summit to pray, play, study, and help each other know more and care more about the very issues scientists and theologians have been addressing for many years.

Readings for the weekend included “Climate Change: Our Call to Conversion” from the Intercommunity Peace & Justice Center; a summary of an article by Sallie McFague, “Kenosis, Climate Change & Christianity “ along with quotations from the recent Papal Encyclical on the environment, “Laudato Si.” Participants practiced using Contemplative Dialogue/Listening skills while carrying out the activities and exercises.

Saturday afternoon, the group gathered for a walking, thinking, reflecting, writing activity based on “eco mapping” from “Climate  Change: Our Call to Conversion.” Following some reflection time, those present shared their reflections on these six steps:  Values I hold about sustainable living; My gifts & resources for living like climate change matters; Support I need to reduce my carbon footprint; Indicators that I’m acting out of old patterns; New climate change lifestyle actions I want to explore; and “I would like to be described on this journey…”

The photo here shows an activity, where each participant wrote on a piece of ribbon something she did not want to lose to climate destruction.  After sharing what had been written, on the ribbons, they were placed around the lighted globe that was a centerpiece for much of the day. Click here for the Climate Ribbon activity.

Commitments were made to be socially conscious in a variety of ways over the next year. These were:

• read Laudato Si
• Join or start a study group based on the encyclical,
• Support EPA actions;
• Send Pope Francis notes of appreciation by mail or Twitter
• Look at personal patterns of consumption, (shopping, use of water, energy; other)
• Pray for conversion of the people of the earth and our own conversion regarding our responsibility to help the healing of the earth.

(condensed from original)

Look for more information in future NewsNotes and on our website!

The Ecology Spirituality group meets annually.  Dates for next year are June 24-26, 2016. If you are interested in attending this weekend meeting, please contact Sister Sheila Stone.   If you would like to use the “Climate Change” resource mentioned above, contact any of the Yardley Associates or “Eco” Grey Nuns. .

 Click here to view more photos from the weekend.

Click here to view a spoof-video of Pope Francis and Laudato Si

This entry was posted in From our Sisters and tagged: Annual Gathering, carbon footprint, Clarks Summit PA, climate, climate destruction, Eco-Spirituality, Encyclical, Laudato Si!, Pope Francis