Presentation on Integral Ecology
Sr. Francine Maas, Winooski community (USA) On May 17, 2022, I gave a presentation, on Integral Ecology, to some of the staff members of Our Lady of Providence (OLP) Residential Care Home, in which our community resides. Last November, our nursing director asked me if I could help the staff learn about the importance of recycling, etc. Right away, I agreed to this request if it would be for the springtime. This delay was providential as in the meantime Sr. Begoña sent us more information on Integral Ecology and Ecological Conversion. This information helped me tremendously as this was my very first experience in doing something like this. Begoña sent me her PowerPoint on Integral Ecology and the video on Ecological Conversion agreeing that I would adapt the material to fit our multicultural and multi-religious staff. Working with the PowerPoint I learned a lot and had fun in the process,…
A more humane world in harmony with nature
The request for an article on the MVA in Oran found me as I was preparing a meeting at the library. What is close to my heart and what I would like to invite others to do with me is to continue to develop our commitment to a more humane world in harmony with nature. For this purpose, I asked a Malian student Félicienne Diarra, who had just finished her studies at the University of Oran in a “specialty” and defended her Master in Environmental Process Engineering. She told us about the production of biogas through the treatment of organic waste (vegetable peelings, sludge from treatment plants, etc.). She chose this theme because according to her the world is facing a challenge that threatens its existence. The waste is piling up (and in the streets of Oran for several days of the garbage collectors’ strike it has become drastic and…
Laudato Si’ Week 2022
This year, Laudato Si’ Week will take place from May 22nd to 29th, 2022. Laudato Si’ Week is a relatively recent annual celebration which marks the signing of Pope Francis’ landmark encyclical letter, “Laudato Si’: On Care For Our Common Home”. This year, with the theme of “Listening and Journeying Together”, Catholics across the world will unite in prayer and action, “bringing the whole human family together” to protect our common home (LS 13). During Laudato Si’ Week, we listen and respond to the cry of creation, rejoice in the progress we have made in bringing Laudato Si’ to life, and intensify our efforts through the Laudato Si’ Action Platform. Global and local events will take place throughout the week, with each day devoted to one of the Laudato Si’ Goals. Laudato Si’ Week 2022 Complete Schedule *All global events, excluding the movie sneak peek on May 27, will be broadcast on Laudato Si’…
The benefits of plants
As part of the love for creation and for the benefits of nature’s gifts, many of our sisters encourage the use of two particularly beneficial trees: Artemisia and Moringa. Artemisia Annua from the large Asteraceae family which also includes tarragon and wormwood, is a plant widely distributed in China. They are plants used for more than 2000 years in traditional Chinese medicine to fight against fevers and viruses. In 2015, Chinese researcher Tu Youou won the Nobel Prize for her research into the effectiveness of Artemisia Annua extracts against malaria. Moringa Oleifera, native to India, thrives in particularly dry and arid soils. In the Nile Valley, Moringa is also known as “Shagara al Rauwaq,” literally “tree that purifies.” Used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine, it gives the power to fight more than 300 diseases, including colds, diabetes, and high blood pressure or to stimulate the immune system. Moringa leaves contain…
Our garden – a Beautiful composition of Nature
In this difficult time, we decided to celebrate the Integrity of Creation by taking special care of our garden in Dar es Salaam. The climate is dry, the soil is poor, and because of the heat, the plants and flowers need a lot of water and special care.
Celebrate the Season of Creation with prayer
On September 12, 2020, the sisters of the community of Rome and the General Council went to Villa Pamphili to pray in nature and renew their links with Creation, with its beauty and its goodness. They share with us a memory of this beautiful day of communion and peace.
How beautiful are your works!
During this month of celebration of the Seasons of Creation, we, the novices of Bobo, would like to share with you what we have discovered through nature and the joy we experience in caring for nature.
The tree planting project in Nouakchott
Yahya with the Children of the Sun learning about plants. July 11 was the launch of tree planting by the Islamic-Christian group (ICG), in collaboration with the Association ‘Children of the Sun’ in the suburbs of Arafat. Sr.Celina, who is the initiator of the « One tree per family » project, is also the head of the Islamic-Christian group. On the first day of the tree planting, Sr Celina with Victorine, Fr Victor the chaplain of the group, Sr.Marie Jesus, Daughter of Charity, four other members and a young Christian man joined the ‘Children of the Sun’ group to participate in the work of land preparation. They dug holes one meter deep and one meter in diameter. Then the holes were half filled with sand and manure. The first day they dug 8 holes because it was more difficult than expected. We had to organize ourselves for the work that everyone was doing for…
Taking care of the Earth – practical tips
Amazonian forests – “lungs of the Earth” are in fire, more and more fires are burning across central Africa… We have reached a real climate crisis whose reason is our own irresponsible activity.