It’s no secret that Catholic religious communities and orders have led the way for years when it comes to caring for God’s creation, and the Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Missouri are no exception.
Sister Cheryl Kemner, the Franciscans for Earth Coordinator with the religious order, explained that while the sisters have focused on environmental efforts for decades, those outreach and educational efforts have sharply increased in recent years.
“The Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help created a Franciscans For Earth (FFE) movement years ago to educate, advocate, and collaborate on behalf of our Common Home and all its inhabitants,” Sister Cheryl said.
Since then, the sisters have participated in an array of activities to educate their neighbors and raise awareness for caring for God’s creation.
“We’ve had outdoor prayer services and Zoom prayer services during the Season of Creation and Laudato Si’ Week,” Sister Cheryl said. “We also have a Laudato Si’ Circle that meets monthly to pray and discuss the care of creation in the context of our Catholic faith.”
Franciscans for Earth is in their third year of participating in the Laudato Si’ Action Platform, which they work hard to inform their network about. Sister Cheryl also gives presentations at local high schools about Franciscans for Earth and Catholic creation care efforts.
The sisters have also emphasized the importance of education by sharing resources on their page specifically for Franciscans for Earth, and by bringing in speakers and hosting film screenings.
“We educate, advocate, and collaborate through our films and speakers, posts on Facebook and Instagram and YouTube,” Sister Cheryl said.
In April of this year, Franciscans for Earth hosting a screening of the film River Blue, which discussed the fashion industry’s impact on rivers and nearby communities. In the film, river conservationist Mark Angelo travels the world to investigate the polluting practices of the fashion industry.
“Through harsh chemical manufacturing processes and the irresponsible disposal of toxic chemical waste, one of our favorite iconic products has destroyed rivers and impacted the lives of people who count on these waterways for their survival,” the River Blue informational website explains. “River Blue brings awareness to the destruction of some of the world’s most vital rivers through the manufacturing of our clothing, but will also act as a demand for significant change in the textile industry from the top fashion brands that can make a difference.”
Sister Cheryl said Franciscans for Earth plan to host most events like this one. You can see their calendar of events, as well as sign up to receive their twice annual Franciscan Spirit newsletter, here.
