A look at White Violet Center for Eco-Justice and Sister Ann Sullivan

During the Sisters of Providence 1991 General Chapter, the Congregation made a commitment to eco-justice and eco-spirituality.

Sister Ann Sullivan offered a proposal to the Congregation to strengthen the commitment and as a result, a task force was eventually created to develop a plan of implementation to establish Saint Mary-of-the-Woods as an eco-justice center.

This task force designed eight areas of concentration for the eco-center, including beautification, land use, recycling, spirituality, social action, education, energy use and administration.

In the fall of 1995, the name White Violet Center for Eco-Justice (WVC) was approved by the General Council and the center was officially dedicated in June 1996.

According to Sister Ann Casper, the first crest by the Sisters of Providence Congregation and Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College contained the motto, “Knowledge and Virtue United.” She said graphically, the crest was depicted with a book (knowledge) and a white violet (virtue), and that the crest was the original one planned by Saint Mother Theodore Guerin. Choosing the name White Violet Center for Eco-Justice was, in essence, honoring the Congregation’s heritage.

Sister Ann – a native of Galesburg, Illinois, and cousin to Sisters Carol, Lucille and Nancy Nolan – ministered as the center’s first director.

This year, WVC marks 20 years of existence. It includes more than 300 acres of state-certified organic farmland, bees, a berry patch, a water garden, a bluebird trail (spring through fall) and classified forest.

Tours of the center are available. In addition, those interested in internships may also apply.

And of course, don’t forget the alpacas!

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