“The words of the Song of Songs come to life: ‘See, the winter is past! The fig tree puts forth its fruit, and the vines, in bloom, give forth fragrance.’ In faith, we know that the season of hope is here!”
A patron shows off a cluster of freshly-picked beets at our Monocacy Farm in Bethlehem, Pa. The ministry contributes both to the health of the environment and the health of those who enjoy its bounty.
A Fragile Entanglement
earth day is a welcome opportunity to turn our focus
outward & recognize our sacred relationship with nature
Francis of Assisi’s
Love for Creation
When his father attempted to “disinherit” St. Francis, he turned the tables by renouncing Pietro’s paternity, summing up his new situation in those famous words: “Until now I have called Pietro da Bernadone my father; now I can truly say, ‘Our Father in heaven.’” This opened up a whole new relational way of being for Francis … and for Franciscans.
Francis saw not only everyone as brother and sister, but also everything. This bestowed an importance and a new dignity on all of creation, for it was the work of the Creator. Creation was not something to be dominated or taken lightly; it needed to be respected, nourished and cherished.
The Creator’s gifts are never to be squandered; just as parents and educators encourage young people to use their God-given gifts wisely, we must always encourage one another to care for these, the least of our brothers and sisters, for they cannot take care of themselves.
— Sister Nancy Celaschi
Artwork by Sister Jo Goolish
canticle of the sun
Shortly before his death, Francis penned The Canticle of the Sun. It speaks profoundly of his appreciation for God’s gifts all around us. Click below to read or print a copy.
When the first Earth Day was celebrated in 1970, it was to bring awareness to many of the same issues that, unfortunately, we still face — a half-century later and with even greater urgency — on Earth Day 2021. Our Franciscan heritage guides us to live frugally, conserve resources and recycle what we can, making small measures each day to care for creation.
“I believe strongly in living simply and so I try not to accumulate a lot of things," says Sister Frances Marie Duncan, provincial minister.
She and many of our other Sisters donate to second-hand thrift stores and even purchase their own clothing there. It’s rare that the second side of a piece of paper isn’t used in our offices and homes, as unnecessary waste doesn’t sit well among those who follow Franciscan spirituality.
“In choosing to wear only black and white, it allows me to get by with less clothing,” she says. “This is another way to simplify for me.”
Sister Barbara Ann Webster artfully repurposes disposal items into decorations and crafts.
Sister Barbara Ann Webster does her own small part by “upcycling” — repurposing common household items like plastic grocery bags, glass jars and cardboard toilet paper rolls into unique crafts items. Her eyes often light up when she sees potential in objects most consider to be trash.
“There must be something I can make out of this,” she says.
a spiritual setting
There’s also no denying the spiritual setting that nature provides for prayer and relaxation. Some walk, some garden and some just sit in silence.
“My body has programmed itself to awaken early before sun-up,” says Sister Irene Novak. “My chair faces the east, and I begin my day waiting to see the sunrise.”
When she’s fortunate enough to be near the water, the ocean beckons to Sister Frances Marie. “I can spend hours in silence with nature,” she says. “My favorite place is by the ocean, as the vastness of the ocean is for me a sign of God’s never-endling love and compassion.”
With the right perspective, it’s easy to see that our lives are deeply enriched by our natural surroundings. Sister Roselyn Kuzma captured the roofline of the former Mount Assisi Convent peeking through the cherry blossom trees this spring at Mt. Assisi Place in Pittsburgh.
a teaching tool
Nature also has been a valuable teaching tool for our Sisters over the years. Sister Frances Marie remembers energy fairs hosted by our former St. Francis Academy (SFA) in Bethlehem, Pa., welcoming elementary students to learn about conservation and natural resources. Sister also enjoyed taking her students from SFA and from St. Peter’s Prep in New Jersey on biology field trips and clean-up days.
“Spring time was always a great time to involve my students with nature,” she says.
In the shadow of St. Francis, Sister Regina Ann Rokosny tends to plants at Monocacy Manor in Bethlehem, Pa.
At Monocacy Farm Project in Bethlehem, Pa., the fruits of creation are seen every day. The ministry welcomes local green thumbs to grow their own produce, strives to educate the community about sustainable farming, and delivers real-life results by contributing health fruits and vegetables for needy families who could not otherwise afford them.
“The words of St Bonaventure, a great Franciscan theologian — ‘The Creator’s supreme power, wisdom and benevolence shine forth in created things’ — tell us that we learn about our God not only through Scripture, the Church, and other people, but through everything else created by God,” says Sister Bonnie Marie Kleinschuster, who directs the farm ministry.
She is especially heartened when she sees multiple generations come together to Pick-Your-Own days at Monocacy Farm. For a small donation, the program welcomes patrons to come out to the farm and harvest organically-grown produce each week throughout the growing season.
“We just love to see families out on the field — sometimes three generations — enjoying the gifts of the earth,” Sister Bonnie says. “It’s especially gratifying to know that parents and grandparents, by their example, are passing on the value of right relationship and care of the earth to the ‘stewards of the future’ so generations to come will continue to enjoy the beauty and bounty given to us by God.”
slow but steady
More than 50 years on, some 190 countries are engaged in Earth Day activities today. Pope Francis further elevated Catholic and global concern for the health of humanity and the earth in his 2015 encyclical Laudato Si’ On Care for Our Common Home. Though progress is slow, growing awareness, concern and action on behalf of Mother Earth are undeniable.
“Despite social distancing, we are never alone,” says Sister Patricia Ann Mahoney. “Our God is always with us. Humans and all of creation are interconnected, and God is the life-source of us all.”
BABY STEPS
You may think that you, alone, cannot make a difference in the care of creation. In fact, there are simple, small things you can do in your daily life to reduce your impact on the environment:
Incorporate a few plants into your décor. “They provide beauty while replenishing oxygen into the air,” says Sister Frances Marie Duncan.
Buy fewer plastic products, and bring reusable shopping bags to the grocery store.
Talk to your grandchildren about the importance of caring for the environment. Experts say good habits start as soon as toddlerhood.
Turn off the faucet when brushing your teeth and between rinsing dishes.
Unplug the chargers for your phone and other electronics when they are not actively in use.
Reduce the amount of paper in your life. Opt into paperless billing for your utility and credit card accounts.
Single-use plastics are incredibly wasteful, pollute the ocean, and do not break down in landfills. Use a refillable water or beverage container instead of drinking bottled water.
Use a collection barrel to gather rain water for watering plants and gardens. Do fewer loads of laundry by waiting until you have a full load.
Use LED bulbs in your home, and turn off lights when leaving a room. This reduces energy use and adds up to savings on your electric bill.