Ecospirituality movement explores options for earth-friendly living

by Betty Daugherty, FSPA

Sister Mary Kathryn Fogarty poses with one of several earth-friendly hybrid autos purchased by the FSPA.

When FSPA and affiliates gathered in La Crosse in the summer of 2001 for renewal and to set directions for the future, they decided that energy and community resources would be placed on certain priorities. These priorities for action are known as the FSPA direction statement. The statement serves as the guide for the next four or more years.

The first of these statements commits us as “Franciscans rooted in Eucharist and in communion with all of God’s creation to nurture cosmic awareness, develop right relationships with all creation, and promote sustainability of Mother Earth.”

This is truly a Franciscan statement. FSPA and affiliates have taken this pledge to heart. A strong sense of the sacredness of the created world is core to the Franciscan tradition. Individual members, households, institutions and retreat centers have all found ways to promote ecological practices that further our bond with creation and help
to sustain our planetary home.

Some examples are:
Community leadership has set a goal of purchasing a number of hybrid cars which offer lower emissions, less
pollution and better gas mileage than standard cars.

Fair Trade coffee, which means coffee farmers have access to community development, health, education and environmental stewardship, is served at St. Rose Convent and is available for sale in some FSPA-sponsored gift shops.
Programs and retreats offered at retreat centers where FSPA serve encourage participants to see all creation as sacred and revelatory of God.

These are just examples of how the principles of this direction statement are interpreted in practical realities.
A more recent and decisive step taken by the FSPA leadership team has been the creation of an ecospirituality committee composed of members and affiliates. The focus of this group is to support leadership in implementing
the direction statement.

Meeting every other month, this group of sisters and affiliates is committed to their own growth in environ-mental studies as well as activities that promote a greater conscious awareness of the links between ecological practices and spirituality.

Committee members are available to give retreat days and workshops based on the Universe Story, telling the history of life through word and ritual. In other activities, they promote whenever possible the Franciscan theological concept
of immanence, of God as present and active in this world. Through writings, teaching and rituals celebrating such occasions as the equinox and solstice, they try to convey a sense of this world, with all its beauty and fragility, as a manifestation of the presence of the Divine.

Although the term ecospirituality can be defined in many ways, the concepts of connectedness and oneness in creation and holding creation as sacred and holy are definitely part of the underlying belief.

Although the committee has its common goals, individual members take an interest in different projects. One member, Sister Rita Feeney, has become deeply involved in a La Crosse-based Earth Day Celebration. Sister Rita is connecting with an “Earth Coalition” made up of University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and Viterbo students as well as biodynamic farmers from Viroqua, teachers from Waldorf School, the Sierra Club and others.

This group is stretching Earth Day into events spanning a week. Events include a presentation by Winona LaDuke, panel discussions on environmental science, philosophy and ethics, a clean-up of Granddad’s Bluff, a canoe trip and a community bike parade.

Sister Rita is excited about “the energy and enthusiasm of the students and all who are involved in the effort to pull this off.” She sees that “young people have the energy to tackle the world.”

FSPA is helping to sponsor this week-long event in which Sister Lucy Slinger, another committee member, will lead a process called the Cosmic Walk at St. Rose Convent.

Though formed only a year ago, members of the ecospirituality committee have found many ways to raise awareness of the need for sustainable living. They are interested in sharing ideas with others and hope to involve the wider community in future projects.

More information about the ecospirituality committee and their work can be found on the FSPA website where a number of articles on ecological topics can be located.