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j u s t i c e , p e a c e a n d i n t e g r i t y o f c r e a t i o n n e w s

ENGAGING THE NEXT GENERATION:
Ecological Spirituality

Spirit Laudato Si’
in the of

Bon Secours Charism
AND THE

“KNOWING THAT YOU LOVE EARTH CHANGES YOU, ACTIVATES YOU TO DEFEND AND PROTECT
AND CELEBRATE. BUT WHEN YOU FEEL THAT EARTH LOVES YOU IN RETURN, THAT FEELING
TRANSFORMS THE RELATIONSHIP FROM A ONE-WAY STREET INTO A SACRED BOND.”
— Robin Wall Kimmerer,
“Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants”
T Bon Secours Young Adults, did just that as we participated

his quote from Robin Wall
Kimmerer aptly expresses the
in a nature scavenger hunt in the spirit of Laudato Si’
transformation of our relationship with
in June and tried to find as many of the 100 creatures on
Earth that has been occurring within
the Bon Secours family over these past
lovers uploaded more than 100 pictures of their finds.
few months. Inspired by Pope Francis’ invitation to our scavenger list as we could. Collectively, these nature
This opportunity to slow down and appreciate the color,
embark on a seven-year journey of transformation texture, scents and sounds of nature was balm for the
through participation in the Laudato Si’ Action Platform, soul, and from the feedback from participants, it clearly
we have been engaging in and fostering ecological created within them a sacred bond with Earth. You know
education and developing an ecological spirituality this event was appreciated when more than one participant
through the leadership of the Justice, Peace and Integrity asked if we could do it again next year in autumn.
of Creation USA Team, which is chaired by Rachel And, in case you were wondering who found the most
Moccia, a Bon Secours Young Adult, and includes four creatures...it was Sr. Elaine Davia. Congratulations,
Bon Secours Young Adults. The JPIC USA Team Sr. Elaine, for your eagle eye and love of creation!
planned and implemented some very inspiring and While we were still savoring the beauty and bounty of
fun events for us since the last issue of Focus.
Earth from the scavenger hunt, we learned in July that
What better way to feel Earth loves you than spending 13 of our Chestnut Oak trees on the Marriottsville campus
time in nature? Almost 40 of us, 20% of whom were needed to be removed due to disease resulting from

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