What's New

Embracing the Earth

Presentation Sisters of Dubuque, Iowa, and their associate members, are changing -- one light bulb at a time. They believe that the experience of change is gradual but effective for any group or organization.

"As a congregation, we listened to the needs of our times and responded five years ago with a commitment to ground our decisions and actions on the needs of our fragile Earth," comments Sister Elena Hoye, PBVM, the congregation's past vice-president who was responsible for developing processes for organizational mission and direction. "As a congregation, we have been faithful. But, as all humans, we still have room to grow and deepen our commitment."

ENVISIONING AN ECO-SPIRITUALITY According to Hoye, in many ways, the shift in the way the sisters see their relationship to God and the way they experience their spiritual relationship to Earth is the most fundamental.

"When we began this walk there was a reawakening to the call to see the face of God in nature," explains Hoye. "Over the past six years, we have prayed using the labyrinth as a form of prayer, responded to the call to contemplation initiated through the beauty of nature and ritualized our relationship with Earth and the Universe."

The sisters appreciate that their Catholic spiritual traditions have been a foundation for a deep sense of belonging to the Universe and the Earth and a deep sense of participation in the unfolding mystery of the Universe. "Lived, it leads to sustained actions on Earth's behalf," continues Hoye.

"I believe there is a rising of a new consciousness among us -- a consciousness of one -- a consciousness through which we see that everything is connected. Everything is one," she continues. "Our spiritual focus challenges us to raise our awareness and change our behavior in all our relations with Earth, its creatures and each other." EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY TOARD ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY Earth education aims to improve upon an individual's or a group's cognitive and affective relationship with Earth and then begins crafting lifestyles that will lessen their impact upon the whole of the planet.

As a community, the Dubuque Presentations began the broadening of knowledge and views by endorsing the Earth Charter in 2004 and then began study groups to better understand it. A monthly newsletter helped the sisters make the connection between the Earth Charter and current justice issues.

Environmental advocacy through education appeared in the congregation's monthly mailings to sisters and in their quarterly news magazine five years ago. Furthermore, participation in various workshops and conferences, and even discussions around films like "An Inconvenient Truth."

"Our education and advocacy focused on several specific issues, such as, the implications of purchasing bottled water, recycling, learning to drive more fuel-efficiently. Our leadership team coordinated and planned with civic and other religious communities in Dubuque to promote good ecological practices," she explains. "Education and advocacy have always been and is an integral part of how we, as a community, express ourselves. This has been a strong focus for us as we have taken steps to be faithful to our commitments toward embracing the Earth."

The sisters also share the education and advocacy for earth sustainability with their employees through in-service and inclusion and mutuality in actions of Earth friendliness. Most recently, members of the leadership team and other sisters reflected with their employees on the Presentation charism, or gift and spirit, of hospitality. With stories, scriptures and examples, they invited their employees to reflect and to join them in "incarnating the hospitality of God, confronting injustice, and working for peace." Ending with the practical, they explained how to measure one's "carbon footprint" and shared ways to change that footprint. They also affirmed their employees who are helping them to change the Presentation footprint.

"I think that all of us [the employees] have had our eyes opened to what the sisters are doing on their property about the environment and why they are doing it. It's important when it comes from the sisters," comments Randy Engler, director of plant and management. "We all have become more aware of what can be recycled. We have good practical ideas for new ways of doing our jobs to save the Earth." Engler has been tending to the property for over 20 years. His management of the pond on the Mount Loretto property means that, with his expertise, the sisters are helping the city to hold roof water and adjacent road water in the pond that acts as a detention basin.

"We so much liked the talk by Sister Ann Jackson about understanding our carbon footprint that we sent her a card with our names and things we were each going to do to change our footprints," says Debbie McDermott, director of nursing. "As a nursing staff we have visited about the improvements we are going to make and keep making," she adds. Already Debbie and her staff have chosen to stop using paper cups to serve the sisters in the infirmary, to recycling paper more than they have been and to make visible reminders for 'lights off.'" They also are clued in to discontinue charging their cell phones overnight.

INVESTMENTS IN THE HEALTH OF THE ENVIRONMENT It can be overwhelming to think of altering the way to get around town, dispose of trash, or heat and cool a home. Over time such everyday decisions become ingrained -- and deeply personal -- parts of how people live, declares Hoye.

"Fortunately, actions both big and small have impact on the planet's well being. As a community, we have taken many actions, from the small to the large," she says.

The sisters' investments include installing geo-thermal heating and cooling in the formation house, total replacement of the windows at the motherhouse, installation of new air exchange for the motherhouse, partnering with the Coalition of Churches for Land and Peoples to foster organic farming practices and participating with the city of Dubuque's food scrap recycling program. Presently 17 per cent of their fleet of cars is hybrid cars.

Many people invest in the health of the planet by composting, recycling, purchasing green products, and conserving resources. "All of these, not only deepen our commitment to invest in the health of our planet, but also deepen our awareness of how we are inseparably interconnected with all of creation," concludes Sister Elena.

Coming together to a new consciousness -- a consciousness of one; learning more and becoming stronger advocates for environmental sustainability; and investing in the health of Earth are clear and solid ways for Dubuque Presentation sisters and associates in the journey together.

For related stories, see the following links for specific Earth friendly actions by Dubuque Presentation Sisters:

"Recycling Food: Waste Not, Want Not"

http://www.sistersunitednews.org/whatsnew.cfm?hl=50

"Green Vision Education Begins with Simple Actions"

http://www.sistersunitednews.org/admin/whats_new_details.cfm?ID=51