Stairwells, like wooded trails and roadways, are places of transition. It isn’t every day that conversations in a stairwell give birth to a whole new life. Yet that is what happened. Conceived in conversation among Sisters Janet Fraser, Linda Gregg and Gwen Smith in a London Motherhouse stairwell in April of 1999, the Federation Ecology Committee was birthed in Toronto by a Federation leadership decision later that year.
In 1999 the General Superiors of each Congregation invited members to form the Federation Ecology Committee. A communication from Sister Jean Cunningham, Executive Director, to the General Superiors of our Congregations, dated Oct 8, 1999 states that the Committee met in Cobourg on Oct 6th. The letter reads: “At this meeting there was a great deal of concern expressed over the treatment of the First Nations’ rights regarding East Coast fishing.” Early records are sketchy. We focused on creating and doing, not recording! We realized that “the Spirit caught our hearts.” Our committee’s record of activities begins with the articulation of our vision: “The Dream Seed,” which we began in earnest in 2000. Now, in 2010, we celebrate the 10thyear of the birth and development of our vision: “The Dream Seed.”
The Federation Ecology Committee’s Trinitarian vision recognizes the core relationships of the Holy Trinity revealed in creation; especially, the Trinity of principles at the centre of the universe (interiority, diversity and communion). It recognizes that our Charism, as Miriam Therese McGillis reminded us, is irrevocably rooted in the centre of the universe’s creation. Our vision is also Trinitarian in its expression: Ecological Spirituality, Earth Literacy and Ecological Practices for Sustainable Living. We have worked for the integration of theology, spirituality and praxis. This we express as the Trinity of knowing, being and doing.
As we reflect with gratitude on these ten years we recall how the Spirit urged us and guided us to develop and offer ecologically focused retreats. Many of you have participated in the following: Earth Spirit/CSJ Spirit; Water: Life-Blood and Birthright of All Creation; Doorways to the Heart: Aboriginal Perspectives on Ecology; and Walking Sacred Earth: contemplatively, ascetically and prophetically. These were graced moments both for participants and for team members. We also shared eco-focused prayers, most recently the Hamilton Ecology Committee’s Intercessory Prayers for the Care of the Earth. Sister Jeanne Fortin’s reflection: Ecology and the Maxims greatly enriched us. This too we shared with you.
With chuckles and smiles now, we remember the intensity of the struggle to articulate and support the development of the CSJ Earth Literacy program: “Village Earth.” We affirmed that, although it is hosted at Villa St. Joseph in Cobourg, this is truly a Federation initiative. We are now a few steps closer to having it recognized as a University credit course. We have developed a Village Earth Outreach program for Youth and are currently working on a program for parishes. However, we grieve that we have not yet accomplished our vision to offer the program in our respective Congregations.
Other initiatives have expanded Earth Literacy to include education on the integrity of creation, relationships with wider social justice initiatives, and ecological perspectives on the Millenium Development Goals. The latter was presented in the Federation Newsletter. We continue to enjoy the privilege and blessing of writing for The Green Window. We have become bridge builders. We have shared resources and raised congregational awareness. We have challenged both you and ourselves, to become more organic, more energy conscious and more ecologically aware. Our hopes of “Greening our Motherhouses” have been expressed in unanticipated ways.
We are graced with the beautiful artwork of two Sisters: Sister Anthony Daniel (SSM) for the Ecology Committee logo and Sister Angela Fleming (L) for the mandala on “sacred earth” which integrates CSJ spirit with earth spirit as expressed in the seasons. We are thankful for this shared beauty and creativity.
We want to acknowledge with gratitude the participation of each Congregation in the work of the Federation Ecology Committee, either as members or as the Congregational Leadership contact.
Toronto: Sisters Janet Fraser, Gwen Smith and Janet Speth.
Hamilton: Sisters Jean Cunningham, Isobel Gallotti and Nancy Sullivan.
London: Sisters Margo Ritchie and Nancy Wales
Peterborough: Sisters Linda Gregg, Shirley O’Rourke, Marilyn Meraw and Mary Rowell.
Pembroke: Sisters Nicole Aubé and Marjorie FitzPatrick.
Sault Ste. Marie: Sisters Rita Godon, Norah Murphy and Priscilla Solomon.
We also acknowledge the on-going interest, support and frequent presence of the Federation Office executive staff over the ten years: Sisters Pat Valeriote, Jean Cunningham, Kathleen Lichti, Veronica O’Reilly, Valerie Van Cauwenberghe and ever-responsive Ms. Margaret Magee. Thank you and God bless you!
As we celebrate we ask: “What if we had known the secret all along?”
For stairwells, wooded paths, transitions, and conversations we give thanks and praise to God. For the gifts of ever-deepening communion expressed in hard work, challenging ideas, meals together, occasional beers or glasses of wine, laughter and tears we are thankful. Most of all, we are grateful for the blessing of ten years of exploring and communicating together, the vision of knowing, being and doing the vision: that All Creation is One in God and that all creation reflects the Trinity. May God be praised!
“The kinship model knows that we are all connected. For all our distinctiveness, human beings are modes of being of the universe. Woven into our lives is the very fire from the stars and the genes from the sea creatures, and everyone, utterly everyone, is kin in the radiant tapestry of being. This relationship is not external or extrinsic to who we are, but wells up as the defining truth from our deepest being.”
Elizabeth A. Johnson CSJ
