Integral ecology pilgrimage - South Africa

14/08/2024

News from South Africa from Catherine Harrison who participated in the recent Ursuline Integral Ecology Formators program. She shares with us what has been achieved in the pilgrimage of integral ecology. Thank you and congratulations!

The Integral Ecology Pilgrimage was a profound journey filled with many emotions: excitement, as we embarked on this new venture; anxiety – pondering the challenges that lay ahead and stepping outside our comfort zones; and a sense of solidarity, knowing we would encourage each other along this path.

Through various platforms like Zoom, SMS, and phone calls, we prayed, shared insights, and encouraged each other’s spirits. These interactions moved us deeply, oscillating between moments of deep reflection and understanding, to awe-inspiring revelations when different countries shared their unique interpretations of the presentations.

Moving from inspiration to action, significant projects unfolded:

1. St Ursula’s Painted tree: Leaves were cut out and each person, staff, learners, Ursuline Associates, Sr Claudine-Marie from the Ursuline Generalate wrote down how they committed and pledged to change our environment and placed this message on the tree. The real message was, ‘Am I committed to sustaining and keeping our environment clean?’

 

      

 

2. Birthday Celebration at St Ursula’s: Celebrating our schools’ 120th birthday, each person attending including staff, and all learners received a potted “Spekboom” plant with the metaphor inserted that was created for the Integral Ecology program, with a verse from St Angela, our foundress on the other side. Spreading the hope that this little plant will be planted and nurtured for the future. Spekboom plants convert carbon dioxide to oxygen, are drought resistant, self-sowing and edible.

 

         

 

3. Interconnectedness and Outreach: It is incredible how all people are interconnected; Cathy Harrison was called by an unknown person who has authored a beautiful book on keeping the environment clean. This book has been ordered for our entire team in South Africa and Botswana to assist with spreading the vital message to all.

 

4. Initiative at Brescia House School: created beautiful bird feeders, embracing a deeper    understanding and care for all creatures that share our planet. 

5. St Lucia held a biodiversity program: St Lucia hosted a biodiversity program aimed at     raising awareness and promoting conservation.

6. Environmental Cleanup in Botswana: Serowe organized cleanup days in the environment with young preschool children, instilling early values to care for the environment. They are also planning plays that are to be produced by young people to enlighten them on the need to foster nature.

EXCITING PROJECTS ON THE HORIZON:

•    Bringing grey water to school to water the plants.
•    Plant “Spekboom” plants in greening the gardens at school.
•    Sharing this message to Ursuline Associates in Krugersdorp and Bryanston.
•    Making a gratitude tree outside in the school gardens, highlighting the elements like rain, water, social benefits, reducing carbon footprints, helping the disadvantaged. 
•    United together for Mandela Day by planting a tree and filling it with soil from their own homes.
•    Prayer time in the chapel with “Mother Earth”. Using prayers from St Francis of Assisi to deepen spiritual engagement with the environment.

These initiatives not only promote environmental sustainability, but also foster community cohesion, spiritual reflection and a sense of responsibility towards our planet and its diverse ecosystems.

The Southern African team continues to meet on Zoom monthly to share and support each other with our hopes and ideas.

Thank you to the Ursuline Integral Ecology Animators and presenters for allowing us to be part of this incredible experience as we move in faith to understand Pope Francis’ dream of Laudato Sí action.