Earth Hope

“Live Lightly on Earth”

So suggest the Sisters of St. Francis of Oldenburg in their corporate stance on Care for Creation and Sister Earth. Companion Director Kathy Boehm and Companion Val  Cummings spent October 23-25 at the Franciscan Retreat Center in Oldenburg, Indiana, delving into that concept as they supported Marya Grathwohl, OSF, and Helen Prejean, CSJ, in an Earth Hope event. The weekend gathering was entitled, “Justice and  Compassion in the Web of Life: Energized by Grace for Action.” Energizing grace was certainly present for the 30 or so participants, as they joined people in 181 countries for 350 International Day of Climate Action on October 24. Motivation from the short film Kilowatt Ours provided the foundation for their contribution to the 350 Community’s dedicated effort to decrease the volume of carbon in Earth’s atmosphere. The group also entered into St. Clare’s contemplative process as they sought to experience grace and wisdom in nature. Dr. Helen Caldicott’s writings, particularly If You Love this Planet: A Plan to Heal Earth, generated both lively discussion and quiet reflection. In concert with Earth Hope’s focus on the sacred connection in all creation, Val Cummings led the participants in an introductory reflection on Teillhard de Chardin’s Mass on the World. The weekend’s highlights included personal reflections from Helen Prejean and Marya Grathwohl, both of whom are penning soon-to-be-published memoirs of their spiritual journeys.               

                                                                                                         Val Cummings