Eco-Spirituality Weekend 2018

Written on: June 26, 2018

Twenty-seven Grey Nuns, Grey Nun Associates and friends enjoyed together the 20^th annual Eco-Spirituality weekend at St. Gabriel’s Retreat Center in Clarks Summit June 22-24, 2018.  Sister Sheila Stone, mainstay and powerful influence on the evolution of this weekend, traced its history on Friday evening after Mimi Palkovics led the group in prayer.

Thanks to GNSH congregational financial support, we had a retreat day on Saturday. Guest speaker and retreat director Sr. Linda Gregg, SSJ, and her assistant, Sister Mary Rowell, SSJ, guided us in theological reflection framed in cosmology, that is, the “new story” of the earth and humanity’s relationship to the universe. Sister Linda referenced our Grey Nun spirituality of the Sacred Heart and Father Lowell Glendon,S.S.’s, exegesis on our metaphors as she instructed us on the story of creation as interpreted through indigenous cultures and through the Hebrew and Christian scriptures.

There was time for relishing the beauty and mystery of the natural world –our kin– on the grounds of St Gabriel’s, since we were favored by several hours of dry weather and even sunshine. Silent reflection and resting in the arms of nature helped us return, as Father Thomas Berry wrote,

“ . . . to our native place, after a long absence, meeting once again with our kin in the earth community” 

We listened and intervened with questions as Sister Linda guided us into consideration of how to rediscover the Trinity as relational, not just juridical as in classical theology. We learned that up until the 12^th century, our Church recognized and emphasized both the “book” of nature and the book of Scripture as revelation of God. Linda traced for us a variety of natural metaphors that cultures have used to probe the mystery of the Three in One, including, for example, trees (root, trunk, branches – all one) and waterfalls (rocks,  water, mist). We recognized with Thomas Aquinas that

“…the cosmos is an astonishing image of God.”  

Before we adjourned Saturday for liturgy with the Passionist Sisters, we began to converse about our concerns regarding care of and destruction of the planet. We encouraged one another to:

1. find a companion who shares our passion for care of the environment and will help keep us hopeful,
2. act consistently and persistently in our own local situation, whether workplace, home, neighborhood, or whatever
3. realize the importance of lobbying for policy change that favors environmental protection.

We shared hopeful experiences and thanked Mary Jane Key for making cloth bags (to avoid plastic) for all 27 participants.

In the evening, Lucia Iacono led an activity that combined music, literature, and movement related to much of what we have been focusing on in the “new cosmology.”  We sang along with some familiar lyrics like “From a Distance” and “Turn, Turn, Turn” and read selections from Thomas Berry as well as some children’s books about being mindful and truly present to the beauty of the natural world. We were also each invited to make a contribution such as a poem, a story, or a drawing to create a book for the weekend.  Lucia supplied us with lots of seeds for creativity.

Sunday morning following prayer, Mary Jane Key presented a powerpoint connected with the annual commitments from last year’s meeting, including eating less meat, reducing consumption, praying daily, and advocating for an issue related to climate change. We each evaluated ourselves on how well we have done since last year!

Barbara Harrington facilitated discussion about goals for 2018.  The categories of our Commitments for 2018-19 are:

1. recycling;
2. communion with nature;
3. prayer, contemplation, relaxation;
4. advocacy (including education); and
5. support of our GNSH Social Justice Office priorities.

Next year’s meeting will be the weekend of June 21-23, 2019. Check with Sister Sheila Stone or any “Eco Woman” if you’re interested in attending! All are welcome!

View photos of the weekend, here!

This entry was posted in From our Sisters and tagged: advocacy, Clarks Summit PA, commitments, contemplation, Cosmology, creation, culture, Eco-Spirituality, goals, Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart, Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart Associates, Liturgy, natural world, nature, Passionist Sister, Prayer, relaxation, scripture, silent reflection, social justice, St. Gabriel's Retreat Center, theological reflection, Thomas Berry, Trinity, universe