EarthConnection

earthConnection hosted the Cincinnati Vincentian Volunteers in June. Volunteers learned more about environmental sustainability and helped in the eC garden.

Journeying Toward a Better Future

By S. Caroljean Willie

Climate change is in the news every day as people throughout the world are experiencing its negative effects in multiple ways: stronger storms, droughts, flooding, fires, biodiversity degradation, rainforest destruction and more. For many years there have been voices among environmentalists and the science community who spoke out about the danger climate change would cause to the sustainability of life on planet Earth. now, however, corporations and the business community have added their voices to the concerns – and governments are listening. The realization that climate change is not something that is going to happen in the distant future, but is already on our doorstep is galvanizing world leaders to seek a collective response.

While a collective response among world leaders is essential, equally as important are the actions taken by ordinary citizens at the local level in rural and urban communities across the globe. EarthConnection (EC) strives to provide an overview of what is happening at the international level, but also to educate people at the local level as it remains faithful to its mission to serve as a center for learning and reflection about living lightly on Earth while seeking to integrate spirituality and sustainability with an understanding of the interconnectedness of all of Creation.

Although we were unable to host in-person gatherings due to the pandemic, we did provide bi-monthly webinars via Zoom. One of the advantages of the Zoom meetings was that speakers from other countries were able to share their expertise with our audience. recent topics included two sessions by S. Maureen Wild, SC (Halifax) from Gabriola Island, Canada, entitled “Sacred Pathways to Earth Healing: From Cosmic Grace and Guidance to Personal Choice”; a session by S. Gertie Jocksch, SC (Halifax) from the Earth Literacy Center on Vancouver Island, Canada, on “understanding and Appreciating Your Bioregion”; and a session by S. Colette Kane, OP, from Wicklow, Ireland on “new Cosmology through a Celtic Lens.” As we begin to look at in-person programming again, we plan to continue occasional Zoom webinars with speakers who can bring an international perspective to sustainability issues.

In the last issue of Intercom I wrote about the international efforts to bring forth a moral voice among the world’s faith traditions to create a more sustainable and equitable future for all. Here I would like to introduce the Laudato Si’ Action Platform based on Pope Francis’ encyclical on the environment, Laudato Si’. The platform is a unique collaboration between the Vatican, an international coalition of Catholic organizations, and “all men and women of good will.” This is a seven-year project which aims to take a ground-up approach rooted in the strengths and realities of communities throughout the world. It is designed to empower people to take “decisive action, here and now as we journey together toward a better future” (LS 161). EC will take an active role in promoting participation in the Laudato Si’ planning process which will begin officially on the Feast of St. Francis, Oct. 4. In the meantime, consider reading a portion of Laudato Si’ daily (available online at www.vatican.va/content/ francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_ enciclica-laudato-si.html).

Plastic pollution is a source of incredible pollution both on land and sea. In July, EarthConnection, as a member of Green umbrella and their impact team on Faith Communities Go Green, offered several options for interested parties to become involved in the effort to reduce plastic pollution. This included the opportunity to join our team, Cincinnati Area Faith Communities Go Green, and the worldwide movement to reduce the use of “Single use Plastics” as part of the Plastic Free Eco Challenge from July 1-31. EC also hosted a Faith Community Go Green webinar on July 29.

EC is gradually opening to host in-person events. We recently hosted the Cincinnati Vincentian Volunteers for a morning where they learned about environmental sustainability and helped out in the garden. Other events included presentations (some in-person, some via Zoom) by S. Caroljean (Cj) Willie for the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor, the Oldenburg Franciscans, St. Mary parish in Hyde Park, the Cincinnati chapter of the Climate reality Project, a Girl Scout troop in Cincinnati and three Girl Scout troops in new Jersey.

S. Winnie Brubach and the “Garden Ladies” have planted multiple crops in their more than 20 raised beds in EC’s organic garden. They recently harvested their first crop of kale for distribution to the clients of the Good Samaritan Free Health Center in Price Hill.

Life’s Blessings

By S. Georgia Kitt

There are definite benefits that come from the home where you were nurtured that give you gifts needed for living. As S. Helen Berson looks back on her many life blessings, she remains grateful for her firefighter father and his common sense attitude. She learned at a very young age not to be upset over small things; to be reasonable; to sort it out. Little did she know that this attitude for living would serve her throughout her adult life, particularly in her unusual ministry callings of pharmacy and finance.

When responding to her vocation call to become a Sister of Charity, S. Helen was surprised to learn that the Congregation was seeing her as a pharmacy school candidate at the university of Cincinnati. This was not the norm; however, the Sisters of Charity leaders were witnessing the need for trained Sister pharmacists as the SC hospital ministries were quickly expanding in the mid-1950s. Early on S. Helen was provided with ‘hands on’ opportunities to learn while living and apprenticing at Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati. She earned her bachelor’s degree in pharmacy in 1961 and served in varied hospital settings over the next 36 years, including San Antonio (Kenton, Ohio); St. MaryCorwin (Pueblo, Colorado); Good Samaritan (Cincinnati); a coal miner’s hospital in Whitesburg, Kentucky; and the last 10 years at Cincinnati’s Pauline Warfield Lewis Center. There she served individuals with intellectual disabilities and mental illness through drug therapy.

A defining moment in S. Helen’s career was to help create and implement a decentralized pharmacy system which is the 24/7 model of operation. This included new packaging, a simplified charging system and establishment of patient profiles, all within a computerized system that was starting to dominate the field in the late 1970s. S. Helen has appreciated the benefit of having other family members also working in the health care field; with her brother and nephew as medical doctors, and her sister-in-law as a nurse. Family conversations can be intense and engaging. She commented, “There is always one of us sharing a new, unique experience that is clearly appreciated by the others.” upon her retirement from pharmacy in 1997, S. Helen came to the SC Finance Office, responding to

S. Helen Berson (right) has been a mentor to S. Thelma Schlomer (left) in her responsibilities in the Finance Office. the request of S. roslyn Hafertepe, Community Treasurer at the time. Shortly after, Assistant Treasurer S. Grace Murphy died suddenly. S. Helen’s calm demeanor and trust among the Sisters was immediately appreciated. As current CFO Tim Moller puts it, “S. Helen, throughout her years of service in the Finance Office, has provided professionalism, keen intelligence and sensitivity. She has provided trusted support for her Sisters during periods of change and challenge.” S. Helen would say of herself, “Over the years I became a familiar person to call to get answers or to give direction to solve a problem. This has been a part of this ministry I liked most, helping me get to know my Sisters personally.” These same traits served S. Helen well as a network Leader for her Sisters for six years, helping with problem solving and offering pastoral support. During her almost 25 years in the SC Finance Office S. Helen also mentored S. Thelma Schlomer in her responsibilities, helping her to learn the ‘ins and outs’ of taxes, variations in state and federal laws, car replacements and working with Sisters’ budgets. As she retires this summer from her corner in the Finance Office, S. Helen is trusting to be remembered as one who served and valued the ministries to which she was called. What will she tend to first? A healthy rest!