


So, why must we change? Drought, floods, fires, extreme weather, uninhabitable places, rising sea levels, species extinction, refugees, disease, food insecurity, inescapable heat … I could go on. Virtually nothing that we know about Earth is untouched by climate change. And no one.

Note: The following was provided with permission by Joan Brown, OSF. Sister Joan is a Kansas native and a member of the Franciscan Sisters of Rochester, Minn. She lives in Albuquerque, where she is the Executive Director of New Mexico…

Conference to take place March 2-4, in Denver, Colorado

Providence Associates Jeanne Rewa and Ben Kite's work for justice has been multifaceted. Racial justice, civil rights, gender equality, LGBT rights, School of Americas, criminal justice reform, animal rights, and environment, including climate change, are only some of the issues addressed. In working for social justice, their strategies model just and nonviolent relationships with persons of very different perspectives.

The notion of the healing power of nature is something I feel I have always been inherently aware of; however, hearing the quote from John Muir brought this idea to the surface of my thoughts and since then, I have found myself observing nature through this lens. Josh Price shares why he thinks White Violet Center is a magical place.

In many ways, fracking is the environmental issue of our time

Before discerning a focus, sisters and associates gave input on their priorities. Six key justice issues emerged: environment, human trafficking, immigration and refugees, anti-racism, women’s issues and nonviolence. Still … there was a clear desire for focus.

Love, mercy and justice are central to the mission of the Sisters of Providence. The sisters have come to see that mission extending to all creation. As we focus on mercy in this issue of HOPE, several Sisters of Providence answer the question, “What is one way to show mercy to Earth?”

“Conference of the Parties,” organized by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21) will take place in Paris from Nov. 30-Dec. 11

When I took biology from sister she was still in the full habit, and I've recounted many times the vivid image I have of her rolling up her sleeves, hiking up her skirt and tucking it in to her waist (she looked like she had big pantaloons) so she could lead us up and down the creek bed to explore and take samples.

“Living sustainably has always been a way for me to live out my spiritual life. I feel it has helped me connect the way I live day in and day out, hour to hour to the meaning of my life.”

When I had Sister Helen Jean for biology I enjoyed class, but the nature walks were the best!