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Reflection on December’s Ecological Conversion Field Trip with OMI Novices January 14th, 2025
Contributed by Sr. Maxine Pohlman, SSND, Director of Oblate Ecological Initiative
We visited Treehouse Wildlife Center mid-December to experience a community dedicated to the rehabilitation of injured wildlife. TreeHouse exemplifies the spirit of Laudato Si which calls us to shift from the exploitation of other species to treating them as beings “with intrinsic value, apart from their usefulness to us”. Anyone can bring an injured animal to this center, and it will be treated as “brother or sister” in the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi.
August’s Laudato Si Meeting with OMI Novices September 11th, 2024
By Sr. Maxine Pohlman, SSND, Director, La Vista Ecological Learning Center
L to R: Michael Katona (USA), Alfred Lungu (Zambia), Edwin Silwimba (Zambia), Eliakim Mbenda (Namibia)
We welcome this year’s novices: Michael Katona (USA), Alfred Lungu (Zambia), Edwin Silwimba (Zambia), Eliakim Mbenda (Namibia). During their Novitiate year La Vista will help them to explore the call to ecological conversion as it comes to us through Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si and is reiterated by the OMI’s 37th General Chapter which states, “We are thus challenged to commit ourselves more fully to prioritize ecological conversion as a fundamental part of our lives and an integral part of our evangelization”. (11.1)
Each month we’ll investigate what ecological conversion looks like in practice through field trips, documentaries, and in dialogue with Oblates who are living the call to ecological conversion in unique ways.
Our first exploration was right here at the Novitiate as we familiarized ourselves with the uniqueness of the 255 acres the novices will call home for the next year; consequently we considered this aspect of the call to ecological conversion: from excessive anthropocentrism to responsible stewardship (Laudato Si, 116).
We hiked the land to see the results of OMI’s farsighted actions, since Oblates responded to this call long before Laudato Si was published: 1993 – 16 acres dedicated as the Missionary Oblates Woods Nature Preserve 2001 -143 acres dedicated in the Forest Legacy Program 2014 – Pollinator Garden was planted
Land dedicated in 1993 and 2001 was by legal contract, curtailing human activity in favor of ensuring the integrity of the ecosystem in perpetuity. In the photo Novices are pictured in the Oblate Woods Nature Preserve by a sign which reads: All plants, animals and other natural features within this area are protected by law. Weapons, vehicles, pets, horses, and camping are prohibited. Through this dedication the land and its inhabitants now have a voice!
We also viewed The Rights of Nature, a TEDx talk by Sister Patricia Siemen, OP, Director of the Center for Earth Jurisprudence at the Barry University School of Law. She helped us to understand the inherent rights of all creatures and land as more than inert matter; rather, as a sacred community of soils, animals, bluffs, waters, woods and human beings. Her sixteen minute presentation was well worth our time! One novice had an awakening moment during her talk when he noted that we give legal rights to corporations in the spirit of capitalism; should we not also give legal rights to other members of the Earth community?
My hope is that these four remarkable young men will carry this call into their future ministries and they care for our common home wherever they are sent.
Celebrate Earth Day 2023 April 21st, 2023
World Water Day and World Earth Day are Linked and Flow Together – 2023
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BISHOP MICHAEL PFEIFER, O.M.I.
Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of San Angelo
DOWNLOAD the full Pastoral Article
World Earth Day 2023: Invest in Your Planet (Get Inspired. Take Action. Be a part of the green revolution). The website www.earthday.org describes the history of this special day. The 1960s saw a dramatic increase in environmental concerns in the US. With several environmental catastrophes, many Americans felt the need to take a more proactive approach in the stewardship of our planet. To avoid future environmental disasters, Senator Gaylord Nelson, from Wisconsin established the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970, to bring light to the issues of environmental responsibilities and transforming the public attitude. That day left a permanent impact on the politics of America. Earth Day was the push the nation needed and not long after that, Congress passed several major initiatives that would become the foundation of our nation’s environmental laws.
Beginning in 1990, Earth Day went global. A day that mobilized more than 200 million people in 141 countries to begin the fight for the environment to the global stage. Earth Day continues to grow, and more than 1 billion people took action for the 40th anniversary of Earth Day in 2010. In 2020, Earth Day marked 50 years of environmental activism and showed no signs of slowing down. Presently, there is a world-wide concern on the danger of Climate Change which affects the present and future of our entire planet. In our Planet, the United Nations has called its latest climate report a “Code Red for Humanity”.
The report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration states that the earth is arguably in worse shape than ever. Scientific evidence is clear that irrefutable-human activity is causing our planet to warm at an alarming rate. We need to act boldly, innovate broadly, and implement equitably. Pope Francis focuses on “ecological conversion” for decisions that can no longer be postponed. This conversion calls for new lifestyles World Water Day and World Earth Day are Linked and Flow Together 2023 3 based on development, sustainability and cooperation between human beings and the environment. Society must explore all options to identify the best opportunities to make our planet more hospitable for generations to come. It’s going to take all of us, international, national, and local governments, businesses, churches, schools, and all citizens on earth to form a partnership to protect and preserve our planet.
DOWNLOAD the full Pastoral Article
Lent 2021: A Journey of Hope February 26th, 2021
Reflect, Repent & Renew. Together
Lent is a time of preparation for Easter and the celebration of the Paschal Mystery. During this time of fasting and renewal, we will embark upon a journey of ecological conversion through reflection, repentance, and renewal. Together.
By committing to concrete changes through fasting and lifestyle changes, we will live more in solidarity with our Earth and each other and inspire our sisters and brothers to join this conversion process.
Visit the Global Catholic Climate’s website to join #LaudatoSiLent and for ways to download resources.
