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 SEED
– The SEED (Sharing in Earth’s Ecological Design)
Committee is a group of Sisters of St. Joseph and
Associates who are making connections between our mission,
“that all may be one” and ecology.
We use a process of
reading, reflection, discussion, prayer and action. Our
group addresses issues such as land resources, waste
management, energy conservation, community relations,
water resources, wildlife and transportation.
The Committee is working to free Mont
Marie of its addictions to
chemicals, to give sanctuary to birds, and to enhance the
beauty of God’s creation with gardens, flowers and meditation areas. SEED members provide speakers and educational programs on
ecology.
Labyrinth –
Need
to clear your mind, find inner peace or ‘center’
 yourself? Try walking the stone labyrinth on the
beautiful grounds of Mont Marie. A SEED project, the
labyrinth is a single, circular path which can provide a
powerful experience to anyone who walks it with respect.
Often a religious experience, the labyrinth may also be
used to solve a problem, face a truth about oneself, pray,
heal, or celebrate. Individuals and groups who are not
guests at Mont Marie may make an appointment to use the
labyrinth by calling (413) 536-0853 ext. 269. The Sisters
of St. Joseph also have a brand new portable labyrinth
which can be brought to your school, church or other large
space. The 24-foot square labyrinth can be reserved by
calling Sr. Lorry Villemaire at (413) 739-1900, or
emailing: villemaire34@verizon.net
What's New with the SEED
Committee
Lenten
Carbon Fast Calendar
If you are looking for
a unique and ecologically responsible way to prepare for
Easter, take a look at the Lenten Carbon Fast calendar
that is posted on the LCWR (Leadership Conference for
Women Religious) web site:
http://www.lcwr.org/lcwrsocialjustice/eoclentcalendar2010.pdf
The calendar,
created by the Environmental Outreach Committee of the
Archdiocese of Washington, suggests daily carbon fasting
actions to “reduce our production of climate change
pollution and help preserve God’s great gift of
Creation.”
Thinking
Outside the Bottle
April 2009
A project between
Sisters and seniors at Mont Marie and Providence Place focused on
"thinking outside the bottle" and Change for
Global Change during the week of April 20.
Water Tastings were held at Providence Place, Mercy Medical Center and
Providence Behavioral Health Hospital and most
participants couldn't tell the difference between
bottled water and tap water.
The program also illustrated
how disposal of the plastic bottles themselves is harmful
to the environment.
The group also collected change to
help fund water projects throughout the world.
Change for Global Change is a project organized
by the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph.
The Earth Day
events were coordinated by
Patricia St. Amand and Christine Cox, communications
personnel for the Sisters of Providence, and Sisters
Roberta Mulcahy and Ann Lynch co-coordinators of the
SSJ SEED Committee.
Statement on
Climate Change
December 2007
As the U. S.
Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph and Associates,
“we live and work that all may be One.” We are concerned
for all of God’s creation and our sisters and brothers
everywhere. Earth, which reflects God’s glory, is in
great peril. We accept scientific evidence that climate
change is happening and is caused by human activity. The
United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
in its February 2007 report states: “Warming of the
climate system is unequivocal, as is now evident from
observations, widespread melting of snow and ice, and
rising global average sea level.” We accept our
responsibility to find solutions to this devastation of
Earth, and to act accordingly and immediately.
Pope John Paul
II wrote, “Faced with the widespread destruction of the
environment, people everywhere are coming to understand
that we cannot continue to use the goods of the Earth as
we have in the past . . . a new ecological awareness is
beginning to emerge.” (The Ecological Crisis: A
Common Responsibility, Dec. 1989)
Climate change
is a global issue which affects all creation. The United
States alone adds almost six billion tons of carbon
dioxide every year to the atmosphere. This seriously
contributes to climate change. All creation suffers the
consequences.
Our Church
reminds us: “The consequences of climate change . . .
will impact first and foremost the poorest and weakest
who, even if they are among the least responsible for
global warming, are the most vulnerable because they have
limited resources or live in areas of greater risk.” (Archbishop
Celestino Migliore, Vatican Representative to the United
Nations, May 10, 2007)
We urge our
government officials to join the world community to enact
legislation which will reduce the emissions of global
greenhouse gas (GHG) and to immediately sign the Kyoto
Treaty as a sign of our nation’s commitment to reducing
global warming. We call on all people of the U. S. – and
we commit ourselves – to reduce carbon emissions by our
activities and life styles so that all God’s people,
particularly the poor and vulnerable, will not suffer the
devastating consequences of climate change. We recognize
that what we do to Earth, we do to ourselves! Therefore,
as the U.S. Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph and
Associates, we commit ourselves to support ALL life on
Earth.
The Leadership
Council of the U. S. Federation of the Sisters of St.
Joseph:
Mary Barrar, SSJ Pat Bergen, CSJ
Barbara Bozak,
CSJ Sharon Costello, CSJ
Jane DeLisle,
CSJ Gilla Dube, CSJ
Kathleen
McCluskey, CSJ Mary Lou Mitchell, SSJ
Dottie Moss, CSJ
Marguerite O’Brien, CSJ
Mary Quinn, SSJ Mary Sevilla, CSJ
The U.S. Federation of the Sisters
of Saint Joseph is comprised of more than 6,500 women
religious and 2,500 associates. Members of the Federation
work through collaborative programs, interaction, prayer,
and ministry toward a vision of all people united in one
earth community of love, unity and reconciliation.
The Mont
Goes Solar!
 As
part of their mission to tend the earth, the Sisters of
St. Joseph have installed a solar spotlight to light
the Mont Marie sign in front of the main entrance. The
LED light is part of a system that includes a photovoltaic
panel module with a 100,000 hour waterproof light panel
and sealed battery box. Besides saving energy, the system
provides light without installing
underground wiring. Former Resource Assessment Coordinator, Sr.
Cathy Coyne says the spotlight is an important first step
towards using renewable energy sources at the Mont.
 Moleworks
– It began as a series of doodles which led to a book,
then two more books, a CD and cassette of songs, and even a
stuffed animal. Moleworks is a creative ministry led by
Sister Sally Marsh. With the help of other Sisters, she
wrote “It Is Not Dirt” “Shrediver’s Secret” and her
latest book, "Hugh Manatee and the People of Earth".
She has also
produced a CD “Songs of an Earthling”
 which
includes 12 original songs. Most of her work
concentrates on Earth and ecology, but she has a special
place in her heart for moles. Moleworks books and tapes
are available for purchase.
Click here for order form.
Links:
Center for a New American Dream
–http://www.newdream.org
Helps Americans consume responsibly to conserve natural
resources, counter the commercialization of our culture,
and promote social justice.
Clean Water Network –
www.cwn.org
An alliance of over 1000 organizations working to protect
our nation’s water resources.
National Resources Defense Council
–
www.nrdc.org
Protects the environment and human health through
advocacy, litigation, research and education.
Northeast Sustainable Energy
Association –
www.nesea.org
Focuses on promoting the understanding, development and
adaptation of energy conservation and non-polluting,
renewable energy technologies.
Organic Consumers Association
–
www.organicconsumers.org
Promotes food safety, organic farming and sustainable
agriculture practices.
Pesticide Action Network –
www.panna.org
Works to replace pesticide use with ecologically sound and
socially just alternatives.
Sisters of Earth –
www.sistersofearth.org
An informal network of women who share a deep concern for
the ecological and spiritual crisis of our times.
Union of Concerned Scientists
–
www.ucsusa.org
A nonprofit partnership of scientists and citizens
combining analysis, policy development and citizen
advocacy to achieve environmental solutions.
For more information contact:
Sr. Ann Lynch, Ecology Co-coordinator
Tel: (413) 536-0853 ext. 269
Email:
ecology@ssjspringfield.com
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