Response Plan to the Laudato Si' Action Platform
Plan-in-Progress of the Response of the Sisters of Charity, United States Province
to the Laudato Si’ Action Platform, March 2022
The Vatican Dicastery for Integral Human Development has launched a worldwide effort to respond effectively in all aspects of the Catholic Church to the climate change crisis. The Dicastery has asked religious congregations of women and men to act in response to the Dicastery’s goals (enclosed). The Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill have pledged to act on these goals beginning 2021.
Below is a plan-in-progress developed by the chapter Committee on Care for the Earth and approved by the Provincial Council of the United States Province (referred to here as “the Province”) in the spring of 2022. Our Province goals are based on the Dicastery’s goals; they were generated by the Chapter Committee on Care for the Earth.
Goal 1: For all sisters in the Province to achieve living a simpler lifestyle that measures a zero-carbon footprint by the year 2030.
Actions taken in the past:
- All of the actions listed below have been part of our individual and collective action in the past as we have become aware of the need to address climate change and increased our sensitivity to the effect of our actions on creation.
Actions currently being taken;
- Some of our residences compost, have installed a rain barrel, or keep a vegetable garden.
- Some of our residences recycle at least some of what is recyclable.
- Some of our residences provide meatless meals.
- Some of our sisters eat a vegetarian diet.
- Most of our sisters are conscious to conserve water and electricity.
- Most of our sisters do not consume bottled water.
- Some of our sisters collect gray water to be used for secondary purposes.
- Most of the bottled water dispensers at the Sisters of Charity Center have been removed.
- Some of our sisters carpool or use public transportation when possible.
Proposed actions for the Province in the next seven years:
- In the year 2022, the Chapter Committee on Care for the Earth surveys all local communities to determine what ecological lifestyle habits have been incorporated into our daily living, and which we plan to incorporate during 2022.
- In the year 2022, all houses recycle aluminum, #1 and #2 plastics, and paper.
- In the year 2022, all houses of the province serve at least 1 meatless meal weekly, and 2 meatless meals weekly by the end of 2023.
Goal 2: For all sisters in the Province, who are able, to achieve a conversational level of knowledge of ecology by the year 2030.
Actions taken in the past:
- Most of our sisters, who were able, and Seton Family groups engaged in group study of the encyclical Laudato Si’. Some sisters and Seton Family Groups studied the encyclical Fratelli Tutti.
- Some of our sisters have participated in the interprovincial committee on laudato Si” 2012-2015.
- The Aloysia Conference held a presentation on climate change, in 2019, inviting all sisters of the province to attend.
Proposed actions for the Province in the next seven years:
- In the year 2022, use Newslinks to keep sisters aware of environmentally friendly practices, available resources, and the activity of the Chapter Committee on Care for the Earth.
Goal 3: For the Province to habitually engage in prayer centered in ecological spirituality by the year 2030.
Actions taken in the past:
- The province developed prayers in 2012 that praise God, the Creator, using the words of our founders Elizabeth, Vincent and Louise. Sisters continue to use these prayers in common or individually.
- Sister Sung Hae Kim, SC presented an extensive reflection on the ecological spirituality of Elizabeth Ann Seton to the Province in 2015.
- Prayer resources for Earth Day and the Season of Creation have been shared with the Province over the years.
Proposed actions for the Province in the next seven years:
- In the year 2023, hold an event on ecological spirituality for the Province through collaboration of the interprovincial committees on Beyond Frontiers with Interreligious Dialogue and Ecology.
- In the year 2023, Use NewsLinks to offer ideas for incorporating ecological spirituality into common and personal prayer and into daily living choices.
Goal 4: For the Province, through its members and its collective action, to be active in the local communities where we live in encouraging action toward addressing climate change by the year 2030.
Actions taken in the past:
- Some sisters are active in church-affiliated and civic groups engaged in encouraging earth-friendly practices.
- The province has a vegetable garden and a butterfly Garden which is managed in collaboration with Seton Hill University.
Proposed actions for the Province in the next seven years:
- In the years 2024 through 2030, use NewsLinks to encourage sisters to become involved in collaborative efforts to address climate change.
- In the years 2024 through 2030, to survey and use NewsLinks to report what is being done by various local groups to address climate change.
Goal 5: For the Province to achieve carbon-neutrality in its energy use by the year 2030.
Actions taken in the past:
- The province purchased one hybrid vehicle in 2007. That vehicle is no longer in use.
- Replacement appliances have been purchased with more energy-efficient models.
- The Province made energy audits available to our houses in 2009.
Actions currently being taken;
- Some residences purchase non-fossil-fuel-based energy as their source of electricity.
Proposed actions for the Province in the next seven years:
- In the year 2022, learn which of the province’s rented or owned buildings and residences already use electricity from a clean-energy source.
- In the year 2023, switch to clean energy as the supplier of electricity in all houses in which the province pays the electric bill.
- In the year 2024 ask landlords where rent includes the cost of electricity to switch to clean energy sources, if they are available. Rent another residence and move to that residence if one can be found that will use clean energy source for electricity, if feasible.
- By the end of the year 2025, replace the Province’s fleet of cars with electric cars.
- In the year 2025, install at least three charging stations on Sisters of Charity property.
Goal 6: For the Province to commit land and engage in at least two long-term actions using that land to promote biodiversity by the year 2030.
Actions taken in the past:
- The province participated in raising funds for the Sisters of Charity forest in the intersection of the capitol city of Mongolia and the Gobe Desert in 2020.
Actions currently being taken;
- The province manages a butterfly garden at the Sisters of Charity Center.
Proposed actions for the Province in the next seven years:
- In the year 2023, not use chemicals on lawns or gardens of any of our owned or rented spaces.
- In the year 2023, choose land and convert it back to natural habitat.
- Become certified as a backyard wildlife habitat through the National Wildlife Fund.
Goal 7: For the Province to directly engage in at least five long-term actions that effectively promote social justice by the year 2030.
Actions taken in the past:
- The Province raised funds in support of the Makya Water Project in Haiti 2004.
- Three sisters have represented the Province in working with migrants in El Paso, TX in 2015 and 2016.
- The Province supported Rendu Services in Fayette County, a collaborative ministry of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, the Daughters of Charity of New York, and the Vincentian Sisters of Charity (now Sisters of Charity of Nazareth), financially, with leadership, and with personnel, 2005-2012.
- The Caritas Conference recently offered a presentation on racism in September, 2021. All sisters of the province were invited to participate.
- The Black Lives Matter Conference offered a presentation on racism by Rosalyn Cain King titled “I Need You; You Need Me” in 2018. All sisters of the province were invited to participate.
- The Pittsburgh Conference (now Seton Conference) offered programs on homelessness, living with a physical handicap, and refugee experience.
- Elizabeth Seton Convent financially and emotionally supported, and continue to support, an Iraqi family in resettlement in the Pittsburgh area. Seton Center provided free admission to their summer program for two children of this family. Monies received through Sister Speakers were used to support this family.
- Three sisters provided help for immigrants in El Paso, TX, 2016 and 2017.
- Sister Vivien Linkhauer participated in Charity House in New Orleans 2021.
Actions currently being taken;
- The Province supports Mary House, transitional housing for homeless women,both financially and with leadership, since 2015.
- The Province supports Sisters Place in Pittsburgh, opportunities for women and families to overcome poverty and homelessness, financially and with leadership in collaboration with the religious congregations of the Pittsburgh area.
- The Province and individual sisters financially support many efforts that respond to the needs of the poor and marginalized.
- Some sisters are actively engaged in collaborative efforts with non-profit agencies and individually that respond to the needs of the poor and marginalized.
- Some sisters and our sponsored ministries are engaged in the ministry of education in a way that educates and sensitizes others to the needs of the poor and marginalized.
- The Province continues to participate actively and transparently in the discovery of any involvement in slavery in our history.
- Sister Rachel Blais is the director of St. Ursula Food Pantry in Morgantown, WV.
Proposed actions for the Province in the next seven years:
- In the year 2023, acknowledge with gratitude and respect the indigenous peoples who lived in the region in which our land is situated.
- In the year 2024, reconcile with them and offer apologies for any way in which our ancestors treated their ancestors unjustly.
- In the year 2024, work to remedy any way in which society is treating indigenous peoples unjustly today.