San Antonio Sustainability Workshop

On June 21, 2016 over 50 sisters, associates, collaborators, and UIW students gathered together at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, TX for the Congregational JPIC Office’s Sustainability Workshop.  Presenters at the workshop included Monica Cruz from the Ettling Center for Civic Leadership and JPIC Committee Member, Daniel Potter from the Sustainability Office at UIW, Dr. Ricardo Gonzalez from the Ettling Center, Lisa Uribe from Women’s Global Connection, Sr. Chris Stavinoha and Audra Cardona from Incarnate Word High School, Rene Escobedo and Rosi Cortez from St. Anthony’s High School, Corinne Francis from CHRISTUS Health, Pamela Ball and Howard Homan from Headwaters, Sr. Jean Durel from the Elders Care for Creation committee and GLT, and Jennifer Reyes Lay from the JPIC Office. 

The morning was spent learning and sharing about the amazing work going on in our ministries and congregation related to Sustainability.  There are many great collaborations already happening across ministries, and contacts made at the workshop will hopefully lead to even more!  Participants also spent time in prayer and reflection, discerning and voting for a collective sustainable action to be taken by the Congregation, and remember the many men and women around the world who have dedicated their lives to environmental justice and caring for our common home.  There was also an option tour offered in the afternoon in which about a dozen people participated, getting to see firsthand the wonderful community gardens on campus and also the solar house. 

We ended the morning singing together “The World is About to Turn,” with hope that as we continue to live Laudato Si and care for our common home the world really is at a point of turning for the good of all creation.  Thank you so much to all who presented, attended, participated, and left committed to doing their part to live more sustainably!