Catholic Climate Ambassadors in USA

In December, the Catholic Coalition on Climate Change trained their first “Catholic Climate Ambassadors”. They are leaders from around the country who will reach out, educate and empower people in their local dioceses, parishes, schools, and religious communities to be engaged in this critical issue. They will provide a uniquely Catholic perspective and pay particular attention to the im- pacts of climate change on people in poverty in the U.S. and around the world.


The Catholic Coalition on Climate Change was launched in 2006 to help the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Catholic community ad- dress issues related to climate change. The Coalition is comprised of over ten national Catholic organisations in the United States, including the bishops’ con- ference, Caritas members Catholic Relief Services and Catholic Charities USA, and men and women religious leadership conferences.


In order to expand the reach of the Coalition and its members, an ambitious pro- gramme of training 25 Catholic leaders from around the country to engage Catholics at the local, state and regional levels was launched in the summer. Over fifty applicants applied. Twelve were trained in December. A second training is scheduled in March 2011.


The ambassadors will give talks on climate change in their local Catholic commu- nities and help to grow a network of people willing to be engaged in advocacy, education and prayer. In addition the ambassadors will promote the Catholic Cli- mate Covenant and St. Francis Pledge as a key tool enabling Catholics to live out their call to be stewards of God’s creation.

The weekend training enabled the trainees to gain a familiarity with Catholic teaching on the environment and climate justice. Science and theology were brought together while weaving in illustrative stories of communities impacted by the changes in cli- mate from around the world. At the end of the two days, the trainees were asked to develop an outline for their own presentation on climate change which the group eval- uated and provided suggestions.
The ambassadors come from a variety of backgrounds, including a university profes- sor, women from religious communities, a retired chemist, a union organiser, a cardi- ologist, a non-profit leader, a hospital chaplain, and an adult and youth religious educator. They are from all over the United States. Each is seen as a leader in their local community and have ready access for speaking venues. The Coalition will pro- vide marketing, educational, and resource support as they go forward. Webinars are planned to further educate the ambassadors in such areas as Catholic social and moral teaching and advocacy.


In the absence of comprehensive climate change legislation this year and to provide Catholics with a voice from their own community on climate change, the Ambassador programme is an opportunity to advance understanding and awareness.


For more information please visit the Catholic Coalition on Climate Change website at
http://catholicclimatecovenant.org/about-us/catholic-climate-ambassadors/ 

Hearing on Marcellus Shale

This is a testimonial account from Sister Mary Elizabeth Clark on September 28, 2010 about the drilling for gas in Marcellus Shale.

My name is Sister Mary Elizabeth Clark, a Sister of Saint Joseph of Philadelphia. I am director of the Sisters of Saint Joseph Earth Center in Chestnut Hill. I am also Special Assistant to the President for Sustainability of Chestnut Hill College and a Board Member of Genesis Farm in Blairstown, NJ.


For the past eleven years, our Congregation of Sisters of St. Joseph have had a com- mitment to the issue of Sustainability of our Planet Earth with special attention to the issue of water.


As a result, we have educated and advocated about the respectful treatment of water. The issue of drilling for gas in the Marcellus Shale region of PA has serious moral consequences and thus for this reason is a concern of ours.


I urge you as our immediate representatives in City Council to insist that the ethical standards of purification of our drinking water be enforced on any possible contami- nants from the drilling. There ought to be a moratorium on drilling until it has been shown to be absolutely safe for the Delaware River the source of our drinking water. This is only one of the issues that threaten our Planet caused by the potential drilling. Another issue such as deforestation is also a major concern.


Legislation prior to the actual drilling for gas in the Marcellus Shale region of PA ought to include investigation into the health-related effects of any toxic chemicals or radio active ingredients resulting from the drilling and then entering the Delaware River.


In addition, when researching the components of hydraulic fracturing fluids that may seep into the ground water investigations by the DEP ought not to be funded by any money coming from vested interests in the profit of the drilling. The ethical implica- tions of political gain or profit by individuals must be examined by those creating legis- lation to protect the health of PA watersheds. Every means available for honest investigation ought to be employed by the State legislature. As members of our City Council, you are in a prime position to call for this ethical behavior. 

Dr. Vandana Shiva Visits

Dr. Vandana Shiva from India visited Philadelphia on July 14 to speak at a program hosted by the Academy of Natural Sciences. Dr. Shiva spoke of the significant changes in agriculture brought on by genetically modified seeds. She encouraged Gardens of Hope and Seed Saving Sanctuaries. Her center in India, called Nav- danya, is a program of the Research Foundation for sci- ence, technology and ecology, a participatory research initiative she founded. In 1984 the violence of the Punjab and the Bhopal tragedy demanded a paradigm shift in the practice of agriculture. Navdanya was born of the search for non-violent farming, which protects biodiver- sity, Earth, and small farmers. Navdanya fights against patents on seeds and plants and stands for seed sover- eignty, people's right to food and water security. 

Dedication Ceremony

Here are some photos of the dedication ceremony that took place in June 2012 at the new location at Chestnut Hill College.

Sacred Earth: Spirituality and Sustainability Conference

Dates: June 11 to 13, 2010

"Both education and religion need to ground themselves within the story of the universe as we now know it through our empirical ways of knowing. Within this functional cosmology we can overcome our alienation and begin the renewal of life on a sustainable basis....We might reflect that a fourfold wisdom is available to guide us into the future: the wisdom of indigenous peoples, the wisdom of women, the wisdom of the classical traditions, and the wisdom of science"

Thomas Berry, The Great Work (1999)

Conference sponsored by Chestnut Hill College School of Graduate Studies, the Holistic Spirituality Program, and the Sisters of Saint Joseph Earth Center and with support from the Pennsylvania Humanities Council.

The conference was held at Sugarloaf Hill, at Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia, PA. Our Friday night keynote speaker was Miriam Therese MacGillis, OP, co-founder of Genesis Farm.Program Schedule (.pdf) 


Related Links:
School of Graduate Studies, Chestnut Hill College
Genesis Farm
Holistic Spirituality Program at Chestnut Hill College
Lenape Nation
Sisters of Saint Joseph Commission for JusticeThe Shalom Center

Sister Clark Appointed as President Assistant at Chestnut Hill College

Sister Mary Elizabeth Clark, Director of the Sisters of Saint Joseph Earth Center, has been appointed to the position of Special Assistant to the President for Sustainability of Chestnut Hill College. The appointment was announced by Sister Carol Jean Vale, President of Chestnut Hill College on March 10, 2010, at the Chestnut Hill College In- service Day for Deepening of the Core Values of the College, at which the value high- lighted was “Concern for Earth.” 

Highlights from the Cecilian Years

2003-2007

"Progress...the lifestyle of the developed world... is not only killing us, it's killing every living species on this planet and harming the planet itself in ways that have never happened before in human history" -Thomas Berry

In the time period of 2003 to 2004, the Cecilian Center for Earth, Arts, and Spirit accomplished much:

• The Committee hosted a lecture series called At Home in the Universe with Dom Roberti, Ph.D., Susan Curry, and Al Lamberti, Ph.D.
• The Committee raised $17,300 in grants.
• Ginny Christiansen organized a Resource Library.
• The Sustainability Alliance began housing their resource library in the center.
• Music classes were offered for children, teens, and adults.
• Through MALT art an composting classes were offered.
• A survey and interviews were performed with community organizations.

Between 2004-2005, Sister Mary Elizabeth Clark was hired as the full time director.

• Over one-hundred interviews were done with leaders in Mt. Airy.
• Renovations on the Cecilian Center continued.
• A logo, brochure, and letterhead was created by the Mt. St. Joseph Academy Graphic Arts Class.
• Dom Roberti donated brochure production services.

The First Earth Day Celebration:

• Kim and Reggie Harris performed
• Earth pictures raised in entry
• Procession and Dancers
• Sr. Pat Kelly and Sr. Dot Urban offered dedication prayer and blessing
• Tom Dougherty from Fairmount Park spoke
• PECO lights announced the event

In 2005 to 2006 many important steps were taken with the Cecilian Center:

• A treaty was signed with the Lenape Nation.
• The Mt. Airy Learning Tree (MALT)'s financial arrangement was altered.
• The introduction of the Act 48 course occurred.
• A pilot summer program ran.
• Physical plant improves continued with the donation of materials.
• Began Community Supported Agriculture (C.S.A) relationship with three community summer suppers each year. And 12-15 shareholders picked up shares at CCEAS. The C.S.A. Included the follow Farms:
• Vollmecke Farm (2005)
• Somerton Tanks Farm (2006)
• Amish Farmer (2007)
• Began "Step Away for A Day" pilot program with grant from the SSJ Fund For Those Who are Materially Poor.

From 2006 to 2007 the Cecilian Center Experienced the following:

• A Grant came from Conrad Hilton to expand the "Step Away for A Day" program.
• An Earth Day collaboration occurred with Norwood-Fontbonne, Wissahickon and Khephera Charter schools.
• Mary's Vineyard donated $16,000 to the Center.
• Started a fabric arts studio to work with recycled materials.
• And an expansion of the support staff occurred.

In 2007-2008 many committees formed including the Advisory Committee and Mission Advancement Committee. Also several other things occurred:

• An evaluation and renegotiation with the MALT arrangement happened.
• The first large fundraising planning effort for Sr. Helen Prejean, CSJ occured.
• An organic garden was started.
• Delegations began with the growing number of projects to staff and volunteers.

New Location is Well Underway

An exciting evolutionary aspect of the Sisters of Saint Joseph Earth Center is the opportunity to demonstrate one of the most sustainable forms of energy production. The geothermal well drilled for the new site will provide the heating and cooling systems, thus reducing the carbon footprint of the building tremendously. In addition, rainwater collected on the roof will go down pipes in the columns and be collected in a cistern underground. This water will then be used to care for the landscape gardens. The original wooden floor has been restored to its natural pine, and the floor of the loft made with oak from ethically harvested trees. The paint used contains no toxic materials.

The new site is well situated on the grounds of Chestnut Hill College. Sister Mary Elizabeth Clark will work with the administration, faculty, staff and students of the College to integrate practices of and courses in sustainability and its connection to spirituality. The SSJ Earth Center provides a place to collect "best practices" in sustainability and to network in the Northwest Philadelphia Community with groups interested in delving more deeply into issues of sustainability and spirituality in the Wissahickon watershed bioregion. 

House of Loreto Reredos Preserved

The most precious pieces of the House of Loreto Chapel are the "reredos" and the Ebony Madonna which are preserved on the wall within the Earth Center. The wooden structure came directly from the original House of Loreto in Italy when it was replaced with a marble one.


The Ebony Madonna that was in the chapel also now resides within the reredos. The Church of St. Athanasius borrowed the statue and returned it with an exquisite bro- cade garb. This statue was placed in the original House of Loreto in Italy for a time prior to its transfer in 1897. 

Geothermal Well in Place and Working

One of the major environmentally sensitive features of the renovation is the installa- tion of a geothermal well for heating and cooling of the building. Already the geother- mal heating is at work.

A simple explanation of the principle behind the geothermal well is the use of the heat within the earth to heat the interior in winter and to cool it during the summer. This al- ternative form of energy use is a demonstration of what can be done to reduce the carbon footprint of burning oil or gas.