Tending the Earth with Love

Liturgical dancer Betsey Beckman leads the procession in singing "O Great Spirit" at the entrance to the St. Mary-on-the-Lake Peace Path.

In procession on the peace path, Sisters Margaret Shannon, Beth Taylor, Anna Rourke and Miriam Spencer. Banners are held by Sister Andrea Nenzel, Liz Budd Ellmann, and Kathy Allard, CSJP Associate and organizer of the weeding and planting party.

Earth Day, 2007 was celebrated a day early at St. Mary-on-the-Lake with a forest tending and planting party on Saturday, April 21st. The group concentrated on the St. Mary's Peace Path, where the winter storms had left many fallen branches, and on the entryway, where new native plants were placed behind the statue of St. Joseph.

Then liturgical dancer Betsey Beckman led the weeding and planting crew on a procession with banners to celebrate Earth Day. The group walked the newly tended peace path to the Peace Pole at its center. There Liz Budd Ellmann, Executive Director of Spiritual Directors International, presented the CSJPs with a tree that was planted in gratitude for the ongoing relationship of SDI and St. Mary's, where the SDI offices are located. The gift of the tree had been announced at the SDI conference in Vancouver, B.C., where Sister Alexandra Kovats was Conference Spiritual Director (see story).

On a beautiful April day all present gave thanks for all the gifts of the earth. Our ongoing forest restoration project seeks to replace plants that are not native to our northwest environment with hardy and beautiful native shrubs and trees.

Liz Ellman and Sister Andrea plant a tree that is a gift from Spiritual Directors International.

Forest celebrators: Ted Hanson, Sr. Beth Taylor, Linda Hanson, Liz Ellman, Sr Miriam Spencer, Sr. Margaret Shannon, Sr. Helen Haigh, Sr. Andrea Nenzel, Betsey Beckman, Kathy Allard, Ed Allard.