Religious orders focus on creation in ecology concern

Sister Mary Agatha Smith, RSM, told The Evangelist that "to act in harmony and interdependence with all creation is a definite environmental thrust. It's part of our obligation to be concerned about the earth."

Sister Mary Agatha, who handles justice issues for the Sisters of Mercy, noted that her order has acted locally on that belief by giving donations to environmental groups like the Adirondack Council and removing oil tanks that were found buried on the grounds of its Albany convent.

Feast of Francis

Visitors to the fair, held in Springfield, Mass., will also walk away with a card explaining the Mercy Sisters' care for the earth and a free packet of seeds.

On a larger scale, the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas have developed an "action plan" for 1999-2005 that includes a section on acting in harmony with the earth. The order plans:

* a 10 percent reduction in its consumption of resources;

* education of its members about environmental issues, including the impact of the global economy on the poor;

* the addition of an "earth page" on environmental advocacy to its web site; and

* guidelines on addressing environmental concerns in its regional communities, sponsored works and ministries.

Accenting ecology

Sister Dolores Marie Palermo, CR, directress of novices for the order, noted that her fellow women religious recycle, conserve water and limit the use of pesticides on their property.

Some sisters also attend town or village board meetings to "prevent local businesses from practices that will bring about noise pollution, land erosion and the destruction of aesthetic beauty of God's creation," she said.

Earth-conscious

Holy Names sisters who teach are particularly conscious of encouraging students to care for the earth, she said.

"Religious orders have really taken up this issue, because it goes along with our vows," she noted. "I'm still educating myself and trying to become more aware, more simple and less cluttered, and [examining] how I use the things I have."

Many projects

Since then, said committee co-chair Sister Irene Kruse, CSJ, the order has had an "earth audit survey" done on the grounds of its Latham Provincial House and acted on several recommendations to make the property more earth-friendly.

In an article in the order's newsletter to supporters, committee co-chair Sister Clare Pelkey, CSJ, noted some of the changes:

* Several sisters planted gardens at the Provincial House;

* organic substitutes are now used on the grounds instead of pesticides that were more damaging to the earth;

* the order purchased resources, including books and videotapes, that discuss the environment; and

* trees on the grounds have been identified and photographed for displays used during last year's Community Weekend.

Sister Irene added that in one area of the Provincial House grounds, the grass has been allowed to grow into a form of hay that a local farmer harvests and uses to feed his stock.

"We feel creation is a mirror of the Creator. If we don't take care of what we have, it will affect our future," she stated. "We are closely linked with our environment. We are part of the earth. We come from the earth, and we return to the earth."

(09-23-99) [[In-content Ad]]