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Restoring the Forest and Ourselves June 9th, 2023
By Sr. Maxine Pohlman, SSND, Director, La Vista Ecological Learning Center
RESTOR is a global restoration movement with an inspiring mission: “accelerating the conservation and restoration of nature for the benefit of people, biodiversity, and climate”. RESTOR does this by “connecting people and their projects to resources like scientific data, monitoring tools, funding, and each other to increase impact, scale, and sustainability of these efforts. We believe that anyone can be a restoration champion”.
The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate have been restoration champions since 1993 when they were the first landowners in the area to dedicate sixteen acres, the “Missionary Oblates Woods Nature Preserve”, as part of the Illinois Nature Preserve System. In 2001 they added one hundred forty-three acres in the Forest Legacy Program. With this history, OMI has become a member of the RESTOR movement; consequently, it is possible to explore specifics about biodiversity on their land using RESTOR data. On Oblate land in Godfrey, IL, diversity includes 1,409 plant species, 31 amphibian species, 46 mammal species, and 174 bird species. That’s a lot of biodiversity on a little over 250 acres!!!
Photo courtesy of K8, Unsplash
La Vista’s Monday study group just completed reading Robin Wall Kimmerer’s Braiding Sweetgrass, and one of Kimmerer’s insights we loved is appropriate here. She comments that when we think of ecological restoration we think about what we are doing to and for land like invasive species and trash removal, controlled burns, and planting native species which we do at La Vista. However, Kimmerer expands this thinking when she explains that, in the indigenous tradition, when we do ecological restoration we are really restoring ourselves! This must explain why, when volunteers head back to their cars after restoration work, they comment about feeling happy, fulfilled, nourished. It is true. Why else would volunteers drive a distance to get dirty, work hard, and brave tick bites? The principle of reciprocity as at work here! Once again, native people help us with an alternative reality.
Kimmerer also phrases it this way, “Land loves us back”. In the case of preserves, it does this in part by providing a peaceful and healthy environment for those who visit; by increasing wildlife, thus reducing species loneliness and countering biodiversity collapse; by cleaning the watershed, contributing to a healthier Mississippi River for humans and other species.
Truly, ecological restoration is a two-way street, and Pope Francis agrees. In the encyclical Laudato Si’ he shows awareness of this deep connection: “God has joined us so closely to the world around us that we can feel the desertification of the soil almost as a physical ailment, and the extinction of a species as a painful disfigurement”. The opposite is also a reality – when we help heal damaged land, we are also healed. Healthy people and healthy planet go together.
Fr. Séamus Finn, OMI Moderates Environmental Justice Event June 2nd, 2023
In April, the Socially Responsible Investment Coalition (SRIC) held their 2023 Annual Educational Event, Environmental Justice: Reducing Ecological Impacts and Social Inequalities at Whitley Theological Center – Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio, TX.
The event was moderated by Fr. Séamus Finn, OMI and the first ever Citizen Advocate Excellence Award was presented to Sr. Elizabeth Riebschlaeger, CCVI. Keynote speakers were, Virginia Palacios, Executive Director of Commission Shift and City Councilman Mario Bravo, representing San Antonio District 1.
WATCH THE EVENT VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rq0OYDdRYHg
Virginia Palacios, spoke on her experiences in the Eagle Ford Shale of South Texas and environmental justice. City Councilman Mario Bravo, spoke of his time working on political campaigns, eventually transitioning into work around clean energy/energy efficiency. He noted his first job after graduating from college was with the Environmental Defense Fund.
For over a decade, the honoree Sr. Elizabeth, has worked with small communities throughout the Eagle Ford Shale that are experiencing health impacts and environmental pollution from oil and gas development, helping them to navigate agency complaints and permitting processes, and drawing attention to the issues they face.
VIDEO: JPIC’s Laudato Si’ Action Platform Report II May 22nd, 2023
Caring for our common home is essential to Missionary Oblate’s mission to the poor, because they are the ones most affected by the devastation to the planet.
In this resource we draw on work that was prepared by VIVAT International. In our Laudato Si’ Action Platform II we revisit the commitments we have taken on and ponder what other action steps we might add..
Laudato Si’ Week is May 21 to 28 May 19th, 2023
Act to Make a Difference
Beginning on Sunday, May 21, Laudato Si’ Week is an annual observance to celebrate the anniversary of Pope Francis’ papal encyclical letter, “Laudato Si’: On Care For Our Common Home.” This year’s theme is “Hope for the Earth. Hope for humanity.” Communities are encouraged to respond to the call of Pope Francis through reflection, prayer and action.
To learn more visit this website: laudatosiweek.org
Learn more about Oblate ecological initiatives at La Vista Ecological Learning Center – https://www.lavistaelc.org/ – which offers programs and resources for living consciously.
The Oblates have joined Catholics worldwide in making a congregational commitment to Laudato Si. Click here to view our commitments.
Organized by their GreenTeam, Sacred Heart Parish in Oakland, CA Joined the local Pax Christi & neighboring parishes for an Earth Day clean up. Read the story here.
View part II of OMI JPIC’s Laudato Si Action Platform and watch the video: we revisit the commitments we have taken on and ponder what other action steps we might add.
LAUDATO SI’ WEEK 2023 May 16th, 2023
Laudato Si’ Week: May 21-28, 2023
Laudato Si’ Week 2023 will be celebrated May 21-28 with the film “The Letter” to mark the eighth anniversary of Pope Francis’ landmark encyclical
on care for creation. This global celebration will unite Catholics to rejoice in the progress we have made in bringing Laudato Si’ to life, and show how the protagonists of “The Letter” are already doing so.
The Letter tells the story of a journey to Rome of frontline leaders to discuss the encyclical letter Laudato Si’ with Pope Francis and includes an exclusive dialogue with the Pope.
WATCH the film here: http://www.theletterfilm.org/watch/
LEARN more about Laudato Si’ Week: https://laudatosiweek.org/
