Srs Maria del Carmen García Sedeño, Juana-Maria Gomez Rodriguez et Adoración Bolívar Castro with another resident
We close the year 2025 with an article from our sisters Maria del Carmen García Sedeño, Juana-Maria Gomez Rodriguez et Adoración Bolívar Castro in Málaga, Spain, that shows how the smallest gesture can make a difference and start a change for us and for our communities.
For several years now, we have been living at the Madre Carmen residence for the elderly in Málaga, Spain. At present, there are three White Sisters living here. Our residence is very good, and we like it a great deal. It is considered one of the best residences in our region.
However, since our arrival, something has struck us:
our residence does not recycle all the waste it produces every day, and we can assure you, there is a lot of it!
At the same time, we understand that recycling everything in such a large residence would be impossible. Still, we felt uncomfortable, because as a small community inspired by the spirit of the Congregation and by Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’, we are convinced that recycling is essential for safeguarding our planet.
So we asked ourselves: What could we do?
At first, we thought it would be impossible for us to make any difference. Then Sr Juanita came up with a good idea. We might not be able to take care of the whole residence, but we could take care of our dining room, where sixty people eat every day. That would be better than nothing.
With the agreement of the religious sister in charge of the dining room and after informing the residents, we began collecting the paper napkins used during meals. After each meal, the residents cooperate very well by leaving the napkins on the tables to make our task easier. Some of them have even expressed their gratitude, saying they find this work necessary and that many of them are no longer able to do it themselves.
Encouraged by this response, Sr Juanita suggested that we could do more by also collecting plastic packaging from desserts such as custards, yogurts, and other foods. Although I initially thought it would be too dirty, she did not give up on her idea, and so we found ourselves doing exactly what she had suggested. We also began collecting small jam and butter packets from breakfast, and other similar items.
Since then, several residents who are not in good enough health to go outside have asked us to help them recycle as well. Some ladies give us their empty plastic bottles. A gentleman occasionally says,
Carmen, when you can, come into my room and take the bag of papers I left there. You know where I keep it.”
Other residents give us empty plastic bags, which we reuse to collect and sort everything before taking it to the recycling containers on our street.
The physiotherapist at the residence and the lady who leads the exercise sessions also collect the papers they use, and we pick them up once their containers are full. In this way, everyone in the residence knows what we are doing and participates according to their ability.
Two other ladies have also joined us to help. This ensures that even when we are busy with other tasks, the recycling work continues.
The residence is large, and we know that what we are doing may seem like a drop of water in the ocean. However, an article by our sister Suzy Hadermann in the newsletter Trentaprile Sharing (March 2025) reminded us of the deeper meaning of our commitment:
I commit myself to collaborate in every way in God’s work for the proclamation of his kingdom in Africa.”
This reminds us that God makes use of everything we live, even the simplest and seemingly most insignificant actions. He can use everything, even small acts of recycling, to help save the world.
