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News Archives » La Vista Ecological Learning Center


Students from Zambia Explore “What Is Happening to Our Common Home” June 17th, 2025

(Contributed by Sr. Maxine Pohlman, SSND, Director La Vista Ecological Learning Center)

Fr David P Chisha, OMI, a novice at Immaculate Heart of Mary Novitiate in 2018, remembered learning about the impact of plastic pollution on people and planet during that year. Now a priest at Sancta Maria Mission in Zambia, he decided to invite me to share this information with parish youth; so, on May 12th we met via Zoom to discuss what is happening to our common home around the issue of plastic pollution.
Fr Chisha chose this as our topic because in Lukulu, Zambia it is common practice to throw plastic bags and bottles on the ground since waste management is not in the picture yet. We discussed the impact of this common practice, and when I mentioned that globally an enormous amount of plastic ends up in rivers and ultimately in the ocean where it breaks down into microplastics and is eaten by fish which are then eaten by humans, the young people resonated. Lukulu is located on the Zambezi River which flows into the Indian Ocean, and fish are an important part of their diet.
 
When we considered what they could do about plastic pollution, they recalled Fr Chisha encouraging them to take a basket to market as people used to do instead of accepting a plastic bag. Raphel, one of the participants, decided it was worth looking “old-fashioned”; in addition, if someone comments, he plans on sharing the reason for his behavior! Alice, also a participant, intends to bring this issue to school to see if she can make a difference there. And Fr Chisha has already begun his efforts by creating “The Voice of the Future”, a podcast on environmental issues with parish youth as guests!
 
(Click on the link to watch their first podcast about plastic: https://www.facebook.com/sanctamaria.mission/videos/451320151375694)
 
In Laudato Si, Pope Francis asked, “What kind of world do we want to leave to those who come after us, to children who are now growing up?” It was heartening to be with the youth he was concerned about, and it was also encouraging to be with youth and their priest who passionately care for our common home in the spirit of Pope Francis.
 
(Image 1 L to R: Raphael, Julian, Alice, Father David Chisha, OMI via Zoom)

(Image 2 Photo by Kabwe Kabwe: Pexels)
 
 

May – Heartfelt Reflections from OMI Novices, Reflection 2 May 8th, 2025

Introduced by Sr. Maxine Pohlman, SSND, Director, La Vista Ecological Learning Center

La Vista joins all those on our planet who are feeling the great loss of Pope Francis who heard the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor and acted on what he heard in a most remarkable way.

This Novitiate year we have been immersed in his words as they come to us in his encyclical Laudato Si. As we ended our time together here at Immaculate Heart of Mary Novitiate in April, the Novices offered to share their thoughts about ecological conversion as described in Laudato Si. May their words honor the memory of Pope Francis.

Ecological Encounter by Br. Michael Katona

I grew up in Colorado, and unsurprisingly I’m a fan of hiking and find spending time in nature to be enjoyable, comforting, and fulfilling. Exploring the woods on our property, I’ve often found empty drink cans, coffee cups, and fast-food boxes signs of people treating Earth as nothing more than a place to enjoy, wreck, then expect someone else to take care of. I’ve also seen evidence of people treating Creation as something valuable, as something to be preserved and cared for. In addition to the folks who root out invasive honeysuckle, remove trash or help facilitate controlled burns, I am particularly moved and impressed by the person (or people) who placed thumb tacks as trail markers to help others find their way to the Cross overlooking the bluffs. I can’t help but think they had a special connection to this trail and wanted to share it with others.
 
In his 2015 encyclical, Laudato Si , Pope Francis uses the phrase “ecological conversion,” which has served as the basis of our monthly classes with Sr. Maxine Pohlman. He describes part of this conversion as allowing the effects of our encounter with Jesus Christ to become evident in our relationship with the world around us (#217). To me, it seems rather straightforward: if we want real “ecological conversion,” we need real “ecological encounter.” I question if the folks who leave their garbage in the woods have had a meaningful encounter with Creation – a time we become aware of just how precious and comforting and magnificent Earth really is, and how at-home we are when we’re close to her. I’m thankful for these ecological encounters in my life, and I’d be willing to bet most folks who subscribe to this newsletter are, too.
 
We’ve received a piece of the Good News through these encounters, and I’d pose to you the same question I ask myself:
How can we, just like the person putting up those trail markers, help others find their way to their own meaningful encounter with Earth?

(Stay tuned for Reflection 3 by Br Eliakim Mbenda)

Teamwork & Service: Mount Mary Students Lend a Hand at Lavista Ecological Learning Center March 31st, 2025

(Contributed by Sr. Maxine Pohlman, SSND, Director La Vista Ecological Learning Center)

On March 6 and 7 La Vista hosted four young women from Mount Mary University, a School Sister of Notre Dame sponsored university in Milwaukee, WI. They spilled out of their car ready to work, and work they did! I was amazed at their enthusiasm and willingness to do hard, dirty tasks.

They dug and tugged, and succeeded in pulling out several tires that had been tossed into the Oblates’ Nature Preserve and buried for years in the soil. They weeded and mulched a garden and cleared a stone wall of debris. Then they cleaned out a storage area that had been neglected for years. When I asked if they needed a rest, together they said, “No, we want to work!”

Beyond the significant amount of work they did, what was even better was what they learned about themselves. “I didn’t know I am strong!” “I never get my hands dirty, but this feels great!”

I was also impressed with how they became a team as they addressed challenges, collaborated on solutions, and succeeded in their tasks.

Working with them was a learning experience and a true pleasure for them and for me. 

READ La Vista’s E News and Eco-spirituality Calendar

 


La Vista Hosts Autumnal Equinox Event October 2nd, 2024

At La Vista Ecological Learning Center’s September 21 Autumnal Equinox event, there was buzz around a special champion tree recently discovered on the property at the Missionary Oblates Novitiate.
 
The Basswood tree was recently nominated as one of Illinois’ largest native trees.
 
Guests at the event celebrated this majestic Basswood and enjoyed food, poetry, art and music to honor this and other members of our earth community. 
 
 
Visit the National Register of Champion Trees to find one in your area: https://www.americanforests.org/…/champion-trees-registry/
 
 
 
 
 
 

Engaged Eco-Elders at The Sarah Community June 5th, 2024

Contributed by Sr. Maxine Pohlman, SSND, Director, Lavista Ecological Learning Center

In September 2023, I represented La Vista Ecological Learning Center at The Sarah Community, a retirement residence in Bridgeton, Missouri. Leadership listened to residents desiring to become environmentally active, and so I was invited to share some of the activities of La Vista and how these might be carried out at their facility.

This residence is the home of several Congregations of “retired” religious women. With a little encouragement, they organized themselves into three groups and started meeting regularly. They established a recycling program, prayer opportunities, and educational programs. In May, just eight months later, I revisited them and learned of their accomplishments which are amazing. I am sharing the outstanding work of the education group which impacted the entire facility.

These five sisters from four different Congregations showed monthly films for the entire house, and often up to 40 people participated. They shared with the Activities Director that they preferred educational documentaries over entertainment videos, and they gave her well-researched suggestions. They followed each film with discussion and plans for action. Here is a sampling of their offerings.

After viewing the Eating Our Way to Extinction about plastics in our food, and Plastic People about the threat of microplastics on human health, they met with representatives from Food Service. They shared an infographic from the American Heart Association on plant-based protein sources, asking that these options be offered in the dining room, saying that they also prefer roasted food to “cremated “! They reported that they have seen more of these options since then on the menu. They also discouraged use of styrofoam and other plastics in the dining room. Food Service has also begun to listen to these requests.

The group’s next goal is to meet with representatives from Republic, the waste disposal company, to request a way to recycle the abundant cardboard that they see being used at their facility. There is no grass growing under the feet of these engaged eco-elders.

Reflecting on the accomplishments of this team, one Sister commented, “This has been a fantastic contribution to the entire residence, changing our bodies and our souls!” Amen, Sisters!!!

 

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