By Diandra Garcia, Advocacy and Program Coordinator, Office of Peace, Justice and Integrity of Creation

During this Season of Creation, about a dozen Sisters of Charity at the Kittay Senior Apartments in the Bronx had the opportunity to participate in a meaningful and enriching experience. This year’s theme is to Hope & Act With Creation. The Sisters were invited to meditate upon the creativity and wisdom of children from the Strawtown Studio’s summer nature art program, listening to a child’s audio reading of their own customized nature principles in a document entitled, “The Declaration of Interdependence.”

Reflecting on the children’s “Declaration of Interdependence,” the Sisters were prompted to provide a little wisdom of their own and consider what matters most to them in relation to creation and their role as caretakers. Some phrases that stood out to them from the children’s declaration were “fireflies who need the dark” because it’s a reminder to embrace one another’s differences in need; cherishing the “animals that make music”; and “interdependence and collaboration” in community. One Sister mentioned this focus on nature reminded her of when she was a child, fully aware of the universe’s greatness, as her father took her on boat trips across Lake Champlain bordering Canada. The Sisters prayed that children of today may continue experiencing this same reverence and awe of greatness.

The children challenged the Sisters to use art and creativity by creating symbols for their names, like the Indigenous Peoples did. This falls in line with what Pope Francis calls us to do in the encyclical Laudato Si and Laudate Deum– to reignite our imagination, creativity, and shared power. Among some of the symbols created by the Sisters was a spiral, flower, butterfly, leaf, wave-like strokes, and open hands. Also depicted were flowing lines, representing a Sister who served in active ministry and is now being served by others of a new generation–the flow of life; a leaning symbol to represent that one Sister now leans on the others for support; and a dog, representing a Sister’s love of dogs.

As a new lay incoming person working towards the advocacy of Peace, Justice, and Integrity of Creation, I am impressed by all of the simple and large acts of hope that the members and associates do, not only in this Season of Creation but every day with the goal of making the world a better place for us all—a better place for the birds, the flowers, the children, and in memory of those who have passed on.

Intentions included were for the spirit of Sister Elizabeth Stelmack, her living family members, and her beloved friend Sister Aileen who stays behind. May we all grow to Hope and Act with God’s Creation, in infinite peace.