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Fr. Séamus Finn, OMI Join Other Panelists to Discuss Meeting the Challenges of Mensuram Bonam October 9th, 2024
The keynote speaker was Sr. Teresa Maya, CCVI, Senior Director for Theology and Sponsorship in at the Catholic Health Association.
The 2024 program included workshops covering topics related to finance, canon and civil law, and planning for institutes in transition.
Background: In 2022, Mensuram Bonam, a set of faith-consistent guidelines for Catholic investors, was published to provide a foundation for applying faith-consistent criteria to financial stewardship. The document aims to serve as a resource for entities to integrate Catholic Social Teaching into their investment policies.
A Journey with Trees during the Season of Creation October 3rd, 2024
By Sr. Maxine Pohlman, SSND, Director, La Vista Ecological Learning Center
The journey began when the Novitiate groundskeeper along with a volunteer for the Oblates’ Nature
Preserve observed the unusual size of a stately Basswood tree on the front lawn of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Novitiate in Godfrey, IL, one all of us passed by for many years without taking notice. But they did, and we decided to nominate the tree to be certified as a “Big Tree Champion”, winning it a place on Illinois’ Big Tree Register.
The next step was to measure the tree and have our measurements checked by a “verifier” sent by the University of Illinois Extension, who sponsors this program. During his visit, the verifier noticed a row of Black Locusts along the drive which appear to have been planted as a windbreak. Recently, our groundskeeper had also noticed those trees and after doing some research, he discovered that very likely it was the Civilian Conservation Corps, nicknamed “Roosevelt’s Tree Army”, that planted those trees almost 100 years ago! Black locusts and white pines are among the kinds they planted, and white pines are also obvious on the Novitiate land. So, we measured and verified one of the largest Black Locust and nominated it as well.
We waited with excitement to find out if both trees were large enough, including height, circumference, and canopy spread, to be certified as state champions. It wasn’t long before we heard from Justin Vozzo, Specialist in Forestry and Coordinator of Illinois’ Big Tree Register, that both trees will now appear on the register as State Champions. To celebrate, we focused on the trees at our Autumn Equinox celebration on September 21st (see photo). Participants expressed gratitude for the Oblates who have taken care of this land and these trees for decades, giving them the chance to grow and serve the ecosystem in so many ways and survive long enough to become champions!
More important than this recognition by the State, however, is the importance of Big Trees for the ecosystem. Justin Vozzo shared his thoughts about the value of the program: “The Illinois Big Tree Registry program provides a unique opportunity to get people excited about trees, the benefits they provide, and the challenges they face. Many of our champion trees are awe-striking, and when people see them, they want to learn more about these incredible organisms. All trees provide valuable services including reducing stormwater runoff, removing pollution from the air, and protecting crops from wind damage to name a few. However, trees face many challenges which prevent most from ever becoming champion-sized. For example, pesticide drift, construction damage, and extended droughts all stress trees and can even lead to their death. It is important that we try and reduce and minimize these effects on all trees so that we can all benefit from the services they provide. No one knows which tree might be a future champion, maybe hundreds of years from now, but one can almost surely say that in the future, our champion trees will be affected by what people did or did not do to support them”.
This year’s Season of Creation will long be remembered as one that aligned us more deeply to the importance of caring for creation at this precarious time on our rare and precious planet.
- Visit La Vista Ecological Learning Center’s website to learn more about their programs
- Visit the National Register of Champion Trees to find one in your area: https://www.americanforests.org/…/champion-trees-registry/
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.
Celebrating the Season of Creation at Sacred Heart Church: Oakland, CA October 2nd, 2024
Contributed by Fr. Jack Lau, OMI
International World Day of Peace for a city wide clean up “From Creek to Bay.” We joined with 35 other groups from all over the city, over 500 volunteers! For our part, we collected over 250 Gallons of trash.
Final – 2024 Season of Creation – “To Hope & Act with Creation” October 1st, 2024
(By Maurice Lange, current Justice & Peace Director at Presentation Sisters & founder of the Oblate Ecological Initiative)
Reflection #7: September 29 – October 3
READ:
7th part of Pope Francis’ letter for the 2024 Season of Creation (next page) “The Spirit of God has filled the universe with possibilities and therefore, from the very heart of things, something new can always emerge.” (Laudato Si #80)
REFLECTION:
Constant accompaniment. That’s the abiding nature of the Holy Spirit. Pope Francis has continually referred to the Spirit throughout his message for this Season of Creation. In this time of polarization, what could ever come along to “radically change the way we think”? Francis writes that such a change would result from our listening to (“obedience to”) the Holy Spirit. We are called to leave behind “arrogant, intoxicated” notions of
(Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay)
ourselves, relating to Creation as “predators”. It would be radical to think of ourselves in the West instead as “tillers”. Can we avail ourselves to “the link between matter & spirit” that physics is revealing for us? My sense is: within that link is precisely the constant accompaniment of the Spirit. In response to such abiding, why not listen…and till?
READ FULL REFLECTION
ACTION: Listen to the Spirit … heed your “ecological vocation”. * Encourage and evoke the same from others. Why not become an ecological vocation director?! As far as tilling goes (working with Earth) … have some first-hand, conscious, direct (not virtual) experience of Earth this week: dig into actual soil, prepare a meal of mostly locally-grown foods, take a hike and feel the leaves of Autumn…
“Holy Spirit, by your light you guide this world towards the Father’s love and accompany creation as it groans in travail. You also dwell in our hearts and you inspire us to do what is good. Praise be to you!” (Laudato Si 2nd closing prayer #246)
