News Archives » OMI Novices
Reflection on October’s Field Trip with OMI Novices November 8th, 2024
Contributed by Sr. Maxine Pohlman, SSND, Director, La Vista Ecological Learning Center
Novices Alfred, Michael, Eliakim and Edwin (L to R) are pictured here in Great Rivers Park by a monument
honoring Godfrey, IL’s first mayor.
Carved into stone is a Native American quote, “The Circle of Life teaches we are all the children of the Earth. May we leave the Earth a better place than what was left for us.”
This quote reflects the mayor’s life as well as the life and service of the man we were to meet next.
This park is adjacent to the Great Rivers Land Trust, the destination for our trip, as we set out to explore ecological conversion from exploitation of land to “responsible stewardship” (Laudato Si, 116) Alley Ringhausen, who has been Executive Director of GRLT for 25 years, is a living example of a responsible steward. Under his leadership, five thousand acres along the Mississippi River bluff corridor has been preserved in perpetuity, protecting a thriving ecological habitat of oak and hickory forests and unique hill prairies. Home to migratory birds like the American bald eagle and the white pelican, those acres are an invaluable asset for wildlife. Were it not for the GRLT the hill prairies and forests might only be a memory, and several threatened and endangered species, along with many others, would have lost their habitat.
Ringhausen regaled us with stories of his cunning acquisition of land which often took many years to accomplish. Reflecting on his presentation, the novices wisely noted that patience, foresight and deep commitment are hallmarks of responsible stewardship.
Finally, we returned to the Novitiate, which is a beneficiary of Ringhausen’s efforts, as more than 150 acres of there are preserved. Once again, we are grateful to OMI for longtime efforts to care for our common home.
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.
2024 February Field Trip Reflection March 7th, 2024
Contributed by Sr. Maxine Pohlman, SSND, Director, La Vista Ecological Learning Center
In February the OMI novices’ field trip focused on the intrinsic value and rights of non-human creatures as expressed in the papal encyclical Laudato Si, “Together with our obligation to use the earth’s goods responsibly, we are called to recognize that other living beings have a value of their own in God’s
eyes…”(69)
We visited TreeHouse Wildlife Center in Dow, Illinois. The Center’s mission reflects the belief that animals have a value of their own, apart from their usefulness. Accepting and caring for injured wildlife of all kinds, the Center is dedicated to rehabilitation and release back into the wild. If that is impossible, then the staff cares for the injured animal for the rest of its life!
When we arrived, we met Carrie and her favorite resident, an injured kestrel, pictured here. As soon as Carrie entered the room the kestrel raised a ruckus, obviously having a relationship with her. The delight on her face and the way she spoke showed respect for this ordinary bird which will be cared for until the end of its days.
At left the novices are intrigued by a small, deformed owl which was brought to the Center by someone who had it as a pet. He fed the owl only ground meat, thinking he was treating it well; however, the nutrition it needed for healthy bones was missing, and it got rickets. That little owl has become a friend to all who meet “Owlbert”! Laudato Si reminds us that “This contemplation of creation allows us to discover in each thing a teaching which God wishes to hand on to us, since ‘for the believer, to contemplate creation is to hear a message…’”(85). So, when we returned from our visit we shared the unique message each one heard. What was common was the gratitude we felt for this opportunity to be close to wildlife that could have been cast aside, but instead was valued and given a chance to continue living in “our common home”.
