Catholic Women's Network Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage 877 Spinosa Drive PAID Sunnyvale CA 94087 Permit No. 553 (408) 245-8663 FAX 408/738-2767 Sunnyvale C A Catholic Women fs NETWORK Issue No. 52 A non-profit educational publication since 1988 May/June 1997

CWN Fifth annual gathering

A day of spirituality with biblical, mystical, eastern, and holistic workshops Sat. June 21 Registration Form on Bellarmine College Prep pages 15 and 16 San Jose, CA $40 before June 1, $50 thereafter Exciting rituals, 33 workshops, Reduced rates for low income Healing room Men and women welcome and much more! Biblical dramatist Victoria Rue and storyteller Yolanda Rhodes will be part of the June ritual.

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Hush, little baby Don't you cry... WA. From our place on earth where each of us occupies only a few inches of physical space, the Earth seems rather large. Drive across our country, and the New Mexico I desert, the Texas plains, and Nebraska wheat fields seem endless. Ou&world actually seems yv enormous. But when we zoom out of our4nsignificant 'individual perspectives and place our­ W& selves in outer space where Earth is only one of thousands of celestial bodies, then it seems very small indeed Earth transcends the time of centuries and proves itself a living being, grow­ ing and evolving, in need of nurturing much like a developing child. Beftq We haven't been very kind to Earth in our search for wisdom, invention, and easy lives. We have ignored the cries of Earth and like many parents, are letting the baby cry it out in her crib. Sometimes the wail just won't stop, and we do have to examine our parenting methods. Mother Earth is crying now —with toxic tears. We need to pay attention, change our ignorant and careless ways, and become caregivers to our pre­ cious mother called Earth.

In this issue, we pay homage to Earth and the ongoing divine process of creation. Art by JoAnne Arnold

Needed: A few good snakes Inside As we prepare to create the Interior Castle of Inside Network 2 Gaia, Samsara, and Narnia 10 Teresa of Avila and cell of Jul ian for the June 21 <* Outside Network 2 Swinne tells cosmic story 10 gathering, we find we are in need of: ,M_1_BF^-~ |\ Honor your mother 3 Columns * rubber/fabric snakes, vipers, spiders // USCC sponsors earth justice 3 Mother Earth .. in my life 11 * stuffed life-size cat, hands shaped in clay ta Women struggle to heal Earth 3 A homecoming 12 * small cot ^__r fc. fc-tX Jj Wholly Mother Church 3 Compost speaks 12 If you live near San Jose and have something 7 Earth Home unites community 4 The energy connection 13 to loan of this nature, please call CWN at ^^lEEr JB / A matter of attitude 5 Ever-Changing mother 13 408.245-8663. - $r A one-generation challenge 5 CWN Programs 14 If / IVlacGillis, Berry tell New Story 6 On the Shelf 14 Martha Ann Kirk, CCVI, will bring a mes­ — I Photo Reflections 6, 14 Readers Write 14 sage of peace through song, dance, drama, and Earth is a living being 7 Calendar and Links 14 her slides of women in the Holy Land to ~ 1 JgvJ Berry sees humans in denial 7 Subscription form 14 Saratoga for a luncheon program July 26. See Earth, feeding each other i J-9 Registration form for June 21 15-16 information on page 14. Page 2 Catholic Women's NETWORK, May/June 1997

Inside NETWORK 0utside NETWORK

Bless me mother, for I have sinned. Petitions circulating NOW speaks, bishop protests A fter many years of pulling out the weeds I asked our printer last month Two new petitions inviting signatures of Patricia Ireland, president of the Na­ in the front flower bed, I finally broke down how many trees it took to print interested supporters are circulating. tional Organization for Women, spoke Feb. and sprayed them with poison which * Chicago Catholic Women Survey: CCW 27 at Catholic College of St. Benedict in St. dripped down the roots into your soil. 10,000 copies of Catholic sent a survey to 1800 persons asking what Joseph, Minn, despite objections from For this poisoning I am sorry. Women's Network. qualities they would like to see in a cardinal Bishop John Kinney of St. Cloud. Ireland Eac h time I go to the grocery store, I use to replace Cardinal Bernardin. Some 200 was invited because "NOW has made so new sacks instead of taking my own cloth persons responded, listing 73 qualities and many strides for women in the workplace bags. For this waste, I am sorry. (the poison in the front yard hadn't really nominating 16 women as possible cardi­ and other areas." Some 900 people heard During the winter I keep my heat near 70 killed the oxalis anyway). nals. (Cardinals do not have to be or­ her talk. She avoided any issues against because I shiver and feel cold most ofthe Every few minutes I checked to see if the dained.) Qualities include understanding church doctrine. One hundred antiabor- time even though 1 wear sweaters. For this dove had left. Shortly after lunch, cloning of human nature, sensitive to all human­ tio'n protesters demonstrated. The bishop overuse of your resources, I beg your for­ had occurred. There were two baby doves kind, love and zeal for justice, listens to found her objectionable because ofher pro- giveness. nesting in the leaves under the trees. I left diverse views, ability to disagree in public, abortion work. my toots and went shopping at the local and sense ofthe ridiculous. Moved by a dove nursery searching for spri ng bedding plants. Women nominated are Kaye Ashe, Mary Soccer balls Early one Saturday morning, three weeks I posted a sign on our kitchen patio door, Ellen Caron, Joan Chittister, Patsy Crowley, An estimated 10,000 children under 14 before Easter, I gathered my electric "Do not let the cat in the back yard." Poor Mary DeCock, Jean Fecteau, Maureen years of age work grueling shifts sewing hedgetrimmer and headed to our back yard Caesar, our 18-year-old, feeble cat would Fiedler, Edwina Gately, Ann Halloran, soccer balls in Pakistan, which spends 240 to ready it for the traditional family Easter not be allowed to have dove for dinner. Jose Hobday, Theresa Kane, Andrea times more on its military than it does on egg hunt As I plugged in the hcdgeclipper When I returned, mom and pop dove Laiacona, Donna Quinn, Rosemary Radford health and education. In February, 53 to give the three large bushes (my apology had joined the babies and were have a great Ruether, Margaret Traxler and Miriam international sporting goods firms, -- for not knowing their name after 18 years) love fest—pecking and nuzzling each other. Therese Winter. prompted by children's rights and labor in the back comer a haircut, I was stopped Two days. Three days went by. I scared advocates and by news coverage of the by a docile, motionless baby dove, huddled away neighbor cats on top of my fence and * Petition on behalf of Rev. Tissa horrors of child labor—pledged to curb in the leaves under the small trees. like a new mom, checked on my little baby Balasuriya, a 72 year old Oblate theolo­ sales of soccer balls sewn by children in every few minutes to see if she had found gian from Sri Lanka who was excommu­ Pakistan, where 75 percent of all balls are her wings. nicated on January 2. The Vatican ac­ made. Adidas, Reebok, and Nike joined Mom, pop and sibling flew off often, cused him of denying church dogmas such noncorporated groups to create a $1 mil­ leaving one little forlorn feathered creature as the Immaculate Conception and the lion fund to monitor labor conditions in huddling under the trees. But on the fourth Assumption in his book, Mary and Hu­ Pakistani soccer ball plants. The effort will day, baby dove could fly as high as the man Liberation. He says his views have provide schooling for youngsters whose seven foot fence. At last! been distorted. He is the first theologian parents, driven by poverty, have sold chil­ I dont take to interruptions easily but We had a bird when our children were excommunicated since 1960. He has been dren as young as 6 to a system of labor since I was starting my research on this small. Our second daughter claimed it as a pioneer in dialogue with Hindus and bondage that outstrips the horrors of the issue on Mother Earth how could I scat the a pet and cared for it until our cat Portia Buddhists and was not allowed to present industrial revolution. The impact may be bird away? I busied myself elsewhere, knocked over the cage and got her teeth his case before an impartial body. small since the ball sewers are a tiny num­ raking and sprinkling grass seed in bare into a tasty little canary. The clever vet A petition is available to sign and sent to ber of the estimated eight to 11 million parts ofthe lawn and pulling more weeds caged us into approving surgery for the the Apostolic Nuncio in the U.S. children in Pakistan and 200 million world­ bird. Some $35 and a day later, the bird If you wish a copy of these petitions or the wide whose childhoods are spent battling died. Call to Action petition which is still circu­ malnutrition as they toil in sweatshops. Sensitivity to all of God's creatures lating (asking the Vatican for dialogue and w££?>s NETWORK doesn't come naturally in our world where changes in justice matters), send a self- Common Ground bans press Published in January, March, May, July, we live by mind over matter. My mom, addressed, stamped envelope or your fax The Catholic Common Ground Initia­ September and November by the Catholic who grew up on a farm in Canada in a small number to CWN. CWN FAX is tive, started by Cardinal Joseph Bernardin Women's Network of Santa Clara County, house with eight siblings and a dirt floor, 408.738.2767. 877 Spinosa Dr., Sunny­ before he died, shut out the press from its 877 Spinosa Drive, Sunnyvale, CA 94087, didn't like dirt. Later she raised turkeys vale CA 94087. first official gathering March 7-9. when it (408) 245-8663, FAX 408/738-2767. and learned how to wring a chicken's neck started several months ago, Common CWN is a non-profit educational organi­ so there would be something to put in the Theology programs set down zation. Catholic Women's Network is Ground was hailed as an opportunity to supper pot. copyrighted and may not be reproduced In a move interpreted by church sources create a new model for "broad and civil" without permission from the publisher. Today, or at least until 1 stopped buying as an attempt to silence religious who discourse in the church. Organizers ofthe Views expressed or reported by writers or most meat months ago, we wrestle with exercise an option for the poor, Cardinal conference were afraid people would be lecturers are not necessarily the views of layers of plastic and foam packaging before Pio Laghi ordered the suspension of theo­ reluctant to speak frankly if the media were die publisher. we can cook our evening meal. logical institutes run by the Mexican Con­ present, so none were allowed. Some jour­ Free distribution/subcription : 10,000 I asked our printer last month how many ference of Major Superiors as well as the nalists, Peter Steinfels, religion columnist Editor/Photographer: Arlene Goetze trees it took to print 10,000 copies ofCatho- exclusion of all non-Jesuit seminarians for the New York Times and his wife, Artists: JoAnne Arnold lic Women's Network. He did some arith­ from formation centers in Mexico City. Proofreader: Rosalee Clarke Margaret O'Brien Steinfels, editor of metic and started to estimate an answer but Board of Directors: Mary Elaine McEnery, The shutdown will greatly affect religious Commonweal magazine took part but not President; Marilyn Glynn, Margaret Gregg, I didn't want to hear it. I wrestle but briefly women, the majority of students. Laghi as journalists. CSJ., Arlene Goetze, Helen Hansen, Sue with the thought - is this publication worth criticized the formation centers for "radi­ In an editorial National Catholic Re­ Mallory, Nancy Ransil, Mary Anne cutting down a tree for? cal and social orientation of liberation the­ porter criticized the shutout, saying it Ravizza, Maleada Strange, SNJM, Theresa Bless, me mother, for 1 have sinned. I ology." must decide if it is an elite undertaking of Torrence-Bui. Ex-officio Margaret would like not to offend you again ... but a few academics and church types for their Marcroft, Suzanne Young. just as I gave space to your baby dove in my Women's concerns own enlightenment or a broad and robust ADVERTISING RATES; back yard, 1 also give credence to the spirit $12 per column inch. Copy is due the The Post-Beijing Task Force, a coalition conversation that engages a big church that 5th ofthe month before publication dove that pushes me to publish this paper. of U.S. Catholic social justice and women's finds itself increasingly battling over im­ For more Information write 877 And I thank you for the tree you make groups, has asked the upcoming Synod of portant issues. It is important to know who Spinosa Dr., Sunnyvale, CA 94087. available for this mission. Bishops for America to consider women's says what. A sanitized version of what 408/245-8663, FAX 408/738-2767. concerns as part of its analysis of church actually happened there will not be accept­ and society at its synod in Rome Nov. 16- able. Dec. 12. The task force asks the synod Reprinted and condensed with permis­ Mail to Catholic Women's NETWORK, 877 Spinosa Dr., Sunnyvale CA 94087 I consider violence against women, pov- sion from the March issues of National ADVERTISING INFORMATION I and discrimination against girls and women Catholic Reporter, PO Box 419281, Kan­ NETWORK is published in January, March, May, July, September and I in church and society. sas City, MO 64141. 1-800-333-7373. November in the amount of 10,000 copies. Distribution is free in parishes, retreat centers, public libraries and by subcription in the mail. I Advertising is available at the rate of $12 per column inch (2.3 inches wide) I $10.50 per inch discount for 3 or more ads per year. I DOREEN BROWN, M.A. Financial Education Samples sizes: 1 col x 2 in = $24 2 col x 2 in = $48 I Need Help? 2 col x 3 in = $72 2 col x 4 in = $96 I Copy Deadline: 5th of the month before publication date. • Licensed Marriage & Family Counselor Enclosed is check for $ for my ad: inches by columns I Can Sue Mallory I • Certified California School Psychologist Enrolled Agent Please run each issue and bill me • Individual, couples, adolescents Enclosed is business card or ad copy (we will typeset) I • Hypnotherapy Income Tax Specialist Name Phone I Address. I 2100 Curtner Avenue, Suite J 408/252-7447 City _Zip_ I San Jose, CA 95124 Free 1/4 hour phone consultation Signed Title I 408/559-3694 Lie. MFC 14505 Ascension Parishioner 27 years J May/June 1997, Catholic Women's NETWORK Page 3

Commentary $&\ Commentary/Issues ft Honor your mother" say 3 commandments USCC sponsors earth justice by Carol Reber Murphy Holy Family parish in San Jose is a St. 1. Pray for social justice for the poor and "Honor your mother ..." Take care ofher when she is feeble. Love her. Francis Model .Parish. It is one of only a those who suffer from environmental de­ The Lord's injunction is clear. few in the country so designated and the struction. If the fourth commandment enjoins us to provide for the one through only one in the four dioceses in the Bay 2. Pray for unborn and bom children at risk whom we individually were invited to the banquet of life, how much more does it Area (San Francisco, Oakland, Monterey, from environmental hazards. bind us to protect the greatest mother, at whose breast all are invited to drink life's and San Jose) to be so honored. 3. Celebrate liturgies focused on creation milk, the Earth? St. Francis of Assisi was designated in (St. Francis, Earth day). As if the fourth commandment were not enough injunction to care for 1979 by Pope John Paul as the patron of 4. Use resources ofthe earth carefully by our aging planet, the Lord also instructs us, "Thou shalt not steal." Stewardship those who promote ecology. And the United conducting environmental or energy au­ is the principle, the other side ofthe coin, to the seventh commandment. States Catholic Conference of Catholic dits of parish facilities. The bounty of the Earth-Mother is for all God's children, including Bishops has set up a way to honor those 5. Educate the congregation or school by future generations. Earth's resources must be preserved and rationed. Hoarding parishes who take their responsibility seri­ holding workshops on Catholic theology/ ofher gifts beyond today's share, piling up of what we don't need while our ously to be stewards of God's creation. spirituality and the environment. brothers and sisters are needy today, is tantamount to stealing from our Mother, Every parish in the country has been ! 6. Engage youth in liturgy, prayer, and plain and simple. ip| invited to participate. The Environmental wilderness experiences. Still, many sons and daughters of Earth have not gotten the message of Justice Program ofthe USCC was launched 7. Promote public policy activities such as their obligation to care for her always and in all ways. Unequivocally, then, in 1993 and since then, all 20,000 parishes letter writing campaigns, meetings, etc. Yahweh gives the fifth commandment, "Thou shalt not kill." in the U.S. have received three parish kits 8. Advocate and organize around health In this vein, the New Catholic Catechism is equally clear: a person must of educational tools. issues, e.g. toxic waste, soil and water always be treated as subject, never object For someone to relate to a subject as In 1994 the kit was called "Renewing conservation, etc. an object is a form of killing (of personhood). As our planet is preeminently the Face ofthe Earth." In 1995, it was 9. Support Catholic organizations work­ subject, her objectification is what we refer to as "raping the earth." named "Peace with God the Creator, Peace ing on environmental justice. The fourth, the seventh, and the fifth commandments bind us to care for with All Creation." The third kit, now 10. Examine our environmental responsi­ mother Earth not only as individuals but corporately as well. Just as individuals being mailed out is called "Let the Earth bility relative to the community. must assess their beliefs, standards, and situation in relation to a stance on Bless the Lord, God's Creation and Our ecology, so must corporations and nations. Responsibility." If your parish has not starting showing In my home in Silicon Valley, for example, there are more inventions in In addition to parish kits, the EJP pro­ a concern for the earth in its programs or service of humankind's progress than in any other place in the world. Mother vides videos, books, a leadership retreat, liturgies, you might want to ask the staff Earth's silicon has been crystallized, cut, and transformed into miraculous scholars consultation, and grants to parish about starting a program. Non-parish products, lifesaving if not simply laborsaving. Unfortunately, the byproduct of projects which honor and respect the earth. groups interested in the material can con­ such progress is toxic waste. The U.S. government now has stringent laws : The parish kits include suggestions for tact the Social Justice representative in governing chemical toxics management and disposal (fortunately, for our health.) initiating parish programs, liturgies, hom­ their diocese or Jill Ortman Fouse, Envi­ On the other hand, our neighboring Mexican government has lax regulations on ily and prayer helps, resources, bulletin ronmental Justice Program, USCCr3211 waste. inserts and articles on conservation. Fourth St. NE, Washington DC 20017- What prevents Silicon Valley byproducts from transport and disposal in In order to qualify for the honor of St. 1180. 202.541.3160. FAX202.541.3339. Mexico on the other side of the border? There factories produce luxury items for Francis Model Parish, a parish makes the U.S. consumers, simultaneous with pollution for Mexican land's absorption. following covenant: In the spirit ofthe "ecological commandments," I prepare my young students for Earth Day through our small recycling efforts. I cannot, in this same spirit, forget to>reflect on my responsibility to the big picture impact of ongoing Women struggle in efforts to heal Earth pollution of the earth with chemical poison. What voice must I give to my voiceless Mother in lobbying for interna­ In Madras, a city in India, lines of women tional laws of waste management and disposal? form at 3 am at water taps, waiting to Carol Reber Murphy is a teacher and community volunteer. collect one or two pots of water for their daily use. Many women in rural India walk miles, even today, with pots on their heads Wholly Mother Church by JoAnne Arnold & Arlene Goetze and hips in search of water. Women of Dalit, formerly called Un­ touchables, in Maharashtra, sing the song of Daya Pawar. It captures "the anti-life EM£ f^jtbBttoTy force ofthe dammed river which irrigates commodity crops like sugarcane, while women and children thirst for drinking Some women in India are water." breaking the bond with nature In Bihar women of tribal households while others try to protect it travel eight to ten kilometers in search of firewood (which is usually procured ille­ gally,) then catch a truck or train to a Fear ofthe earth that is dying have given nearby town, spend the night at the station, women strength to claim their connected­ and return with a meager earning for a ness with nature. When sister earth suffers, headload of about 20 kilograms of wood. so also do women. Tribal societies have strict customary Forests have been central to Indian civi­ laws about cutting trees and they are now lization and were worshiped as Aranyani, engaged in an eco-cide due to their poverty Goddess of the Forest, primary source of and alienation from the forest they love, life and fertility. This holistic vision ofthe the source of their life and livelihood. spiritual past gives inspiration to So women in one part of India are break­ ecofeminists in India—a voice calling for ing the bond with nature while others try to change and transformation. protect it in tree-saving movements. Condensed from "Towarda FeministEco- In the 1730s the Maharaja of Jodhpur's Theologyfor India, "byAruna Gnanadason, men were cutting the sacred trees in the Women Healing Earth, edited by Rose­ village of Khegadali. A woman, Amritha / anoint you in the name ofthe Mother and ofthe... mary Radford Ruether, Orbis Books, Devi, stopped the cutting by having men, Maryknoll, NY 1996. women, and children cling to the trees. Some 350 people were killed as work­ The Sisters of Mercy serve men continued to cut. Finally they stopped, Career and the poor since as soon as one villager was killed the sick another took the place of the fallen one. Personal Coaching the uneducated The Maharaja intervened and made a de­ Fulfillment • Wellness • Balance • Success cree that no trees be cut in that area. * use your power, wisdom and spirit throughout the world. In the 1970s the Chipko movement re-, to create the life you want We invite you to explore fleets similar action largely led by women * maintain balance while going for and children. your dreams and passions becoming a part of Mercy. * assess your career Feminists are calling for an ethic em­ * embrace t he Divine phasizing the interconnectedness between Contact: Lenore Greene, 2300 Adeline Drive, Burlingame, CA Evelyn Henriques, M.A. 94010,415 340-7434 email [email protected] humans and nature and a rejection of dual­ ism of humans over nature. 408.465.9443 Page 4 Catholic Women's NETWORK, May/June 1997 Women Today

It took the combined ef­ Earth Home unites community forts of two women and a by Sharon Abercrombie neighborhood community Oakland Correspondent garden to unlock the This story begins with a happy ending. doors. One hot day last summer, a group of North Oak landers watched With delight as a ruby- throated hummingbird, tame and unafraid, The jobs program currently employs six played nearby in the cool mist ofa garden teens. Two raise and sell red wigglers for sprinkler. vermi-composting. The others work as The humans had gathered to work in garden maintenance managers. Through their community garden. Eight years ago, this program, vulnerable adolescents are the little hummer's ecstatic dance of joy involved in "life-giving work" instead of would have gone unnoticed. being drawn into the drug culture, said Because in 1989, these very same hu­ Sharon. mans were living behind locked doors. Last summer Earth Home was approached They were afraid ofthe drug dealers who by Asterisk Productions from Victoria, B.C. had moved into the area, bringing crime in to be part of a documentary on ways of their wake. building community. The series began It took the combined efforts of two women running in Canada this spring over Vision religious, a ministry called Earth Home, Cable Television. and a neighborhood community garden to On April 2 the segment featuring Earth unlock the doors. Home aired. The cable station is currently Notre Dame Sister Sharon Joycr had working with KQED-TV in the San Fran­ worked with the poor in Appalachia, and cisco Bay Area to get program aired in the Immaculate Heart of Mary Sister Pat Nagle Sharon Joyer, right, and Pat Nagle at work in their garden. U.S. had directed women's health care educa­ So how do the creators of Earth Home tion in Guatemala and at a house of prayer where they felt closest to their Creator. They discovered that the sisters' yard was feel about their success? Still refusing to in Detroit, MI. They moved to 42nd Street in north a beautiful, safe place to visit. As the take credit for what has happened, Pat says, Living in Appalachia was one of the Oakland and started planning their crops visitors continued to gather among the "all the energy ofthe people here for a "greatest graces of my life," said Sharon, right away. What would grow best here? A plants of Earth Home, they discussed the quality life had been bottled up. We just who delivered babies as well as conducted neighbor suggested sunflowers and toma­ problems in their neighborhood. loosened the cork." funerals there. "I really learned what it toes. "We created a trust level with the people," Sharon is more emphatic about their means to be immersed in the earth commu­ A small neighborhood boy was the new said Pat. "The Earth called them out of role. "We came into the neighborhood not nity .. and to understand the connectedness garden's first visitor. "Can I sec your their homes," noted Sharon. Together the as saviors, but as part of the community of all life- sunflower tree?, he asked. The child mar­ people approached the city authorities and who wanted a quality of life back. All of us velled at the sunburst beauty ofthe "tree." managed to get several crack houses closed. together experienced isolation and fear. Sharon told him how the seeds inside could They then decided to start their own Together we decided to restore a sense of Together the people ap­ be dried out, roasted and eaten. community garden. Li Hie Luckett offered safety to the neighborhood." her backyard, since it was "growin' nothing proached the city authorities When she offered him a small cherry Both say they changed in the process. but weeds." Four years later, the Lillie tomato, he took a bite and said, "this Is.' "The garden ministry became a meta­ and managed to get several Luckett Garden is a blooming reality. nasty," while making a face. phor for me," said Pat. "It is a conscious crack houses closed down. "His only contact with vegetables had Luscious crops, herbs, and flowers grow participation in the web of life through been from fast food restaurants," Sharon year-round, ranging from winter squash kinship and mutuality. Each diverse mem­ Pat, the daughter ofa forestry professor, said. "They were the kinds of vegetables and kale to zucchini, cilantro, California ber of creation, plant, bird, and rock par­ spent much ofher childhood in the Wash­ that were mass produced with pesticides, poppies, scarlet sage, strawberries, and ticipates and has within it the spirit that ington State College greenhouse while her harvested before they were naturally ripe, watermelons. unites us all." and stored until all life and nutrition had father tended tree seedlings. Pat day­ Elders, parents and kids alike gather to For Sharon, the gardeners of Earth Home gone out of them." dreamed about the grown-up trees. "What care for their growing earth bounty. Chil­ have taught her "how organic life is. Every stories could they tell me? How did they The next day the boy brought some of his dren leam how real fresh food tastes, and day, I leam how to trust in the unfolding respond to the oceans, to me, to the birds?" friends to see the sunflower. In time, the neighbors grow close, solving serious is­ process—people to people, people to plants, When the two women's paths crossed children left with bags of tomatoes for their sues or just talking garden talk. people to the soil." families. while studying holistic health and In recent months. Earth Home has added "I can't determine what is going to hap­ Soon the mothers, grandmothers, fathers, ecofeminism at John F. Kennedy Univer­ two new ministries — an after school/sum­ pen," she said, "so I just dance with the and siblings began to visit the garden. sity in Orinda, C A, they decided to form an mer fun in the garden program for children elements." They wanted to know where their children earth ministry. Gardening figured signifi­ from four to 10 and a jobs program for Earth Home is located at 809 42nd St., were getting the beautiful food. cantly in their plans since it was the earth youth. Oakland CA 94608. e Sophia Center Celebrating Creativity, Wisdom Think again. and Human Spirit Santa Clara combines a tradition ]uty 10-13 of academic excellence with a real-world emphasis tailored to * New Consciousness, with Hary Schmitt working professionals. Flot>ement as Tteditation, ftovement as Celebration, with Jerry SendgraJJ Division of * Set/ as Mystic, with Dody DonneCty Counseling Psychology and Education * -Finding Our Voice Un Nature, with Cart Putz Degree/Certificate Programs * Geo-wisdom, with Jim Cordon •• Marriage, family, and child counseling • Teacher education * Keynote address: £co-feminism and .Earth • Career counseling • Special education Heating, with Rosemary Radford Ruether • Health psychology Early intervention services • Correctional psychology • Educational administration • Substance and alcohol abuse Higher-education track For information: Sophia Center Holy Names College Call 408-554-4355 for more information. 3500 Mountain Blvd. Oakland, CA 94619 Santa Clara University phone: 510-436-1046 fax: 510-436-1199 Real-World Education for the Working Professional May/June 1997, Catholic Women's NETWORK Page 5 Commentary A matter of attitude by Paula Gonzalez, SC A one generation challenge mm In recent years a plethora of books has appeared with a theme like 50 Simple by John Weber Ecology is not a spectator Things You Can Do to Save the Earth. We humans must begin to Long Prairie, MN These sell well, especially around Earth experience ourselves as "part" sport There is one generation Day (April 22 for those who have not yet For 22 years I have lived off the grid. For of petroleum remaining. added this to your list of feastdays). of nature, not "over" it the first 10 years I lived without electricity because I do not believe nuclear waste is a Surely, performing such eco-sensitive energy (wood to coal to petroleum to fair inheritance for future generations. actions can help restore the ravaged soil, ing a more fundamental,human aspiration, nuclear) with the consequence of more For the last 12 years, I have generated air, and water of our tiny planet —and they namely spirituality," which he defines as intense ecological disruption, more social my electricity from the sun and wind. My are very necessary] However, sometimes 'the "human search for meaning." alienation, and more imminent crises. home uses one-half kilowatt per day com­ they can mask the profound change in Increasingly, this search is occurring Only facing ourselves, not a technologi­ pared to 30 in a mainstream house. I cook attitude which is essential if planet Earth is through various aspects of contemporary cal fix, will lead to gentleness and and heat with wood and in two decades to be restored to health and wholeness. theology, especially liberation theology, sustainability. have taken only 10 live trees. The remain­ "The earth is the Lord's — and its fullness." creation theology, and feminist theology. Ecology is not a spectator sport. We may ing wood comes from deadfall. Absolutely essential is a total paradigm What are some elements common to think that we can shake our heads at the My gardens are organic. On this landhpf shift: We humans must begin to experi­ these new insights? Community, justice, way "they" are depleting fossil fuels or hills, swamp and rocks, I have laughed, ence ourselves aspartof nature, notoverit. and reverence. And now, through such degrading our environment or warring for cried, danced, sung, loved and pondered. I Only when we realize that we are com­ thinkers as Brian Swimme, Thomas Berry, fuel and non-fuel minerals or exploiting put this forth as credentials for a practiced posed of "air, earth, and water dancing in and Diarmuid O'Murchu, we begin to see the poor for labor or exporting our pollu­ spirituality with the earth. the sunlight"—as area// living beings—will how the scientific enterprise can be mag­ tion or promoting consumerism. There is a one generation challenge we develop the motivation to reform our nificently revelatory of the Divine Work­ We are "they" and we can be no less than facing us. There is one generation of over-consuming, Earth-destroying ings in the Universe. involved. petroleum remaining. A high percentage lifestyle. See—everything is connected to every­ To put words to actions, we need a of the six billion people in the world get Only when each of us comes to know thing else, isn't it? If we humans set measure. A Human Energy Equivalent their food using fossil fuels for tractors, that everything is sacred— that everything ourselves to exploring this principle in our (HEE) is the energy necessary to sustain fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, transpor­ is made in the image and likeness of the daily lives, we will find ourselves rapidly one person for one year. Obviously this tation, processing, freezing, and cooking. Creator— will We accept the invitation to a caught up in what may be the most exciting defines a range of energy because of age, The International Energy Agency re­ contemplative eco-spirituality which comes (and scary) moment in human history! size, and perhaps gender. One HEE is 3.5 ports on worldwide petroleum consump­ to us from so many directions. It is becoming increasingly clear that a million BTUs a year or approximately the This shift in perception requires a deep tion and reserves. Using 1990 data and equivalent of 31 gallons of gas. continuation of the industrial assault on dividing the most optimistic estimate of humility and spirit of daring and openness. In developing countries the average use Earth's air, water, and soil by an increasing reserves by the global consumption, we We must leam that humans are not the is eight times this basic need. In the U.S. we number of humans cannot continue. Dur­ have less than 40 years of petroleum re­ highest (and last) expression of Divine use nearly 100 times this amount. Reduc­ ing the next 50 years, the situation will maining. Mystery. change—either by choice or catastrophe! ing our individual consumption of energy This straightforward division does not Rather, we are one ofthe most recent - I This is an invitation to each of us to will go a long way toward living gently and take into consideration either economic or -surely wonder-full in our accumulated realize that the Earth—which has sustained sustainably with the earth. population growth. genetic wealth, but not necessarily more life successfully for nearly four billion years- Many of us romance the earth with Global estimates of food lands are ap­ awesome than any of the myriad expres­ -can and will teach us. words while living lifestyles that continue proximately 10,500 million acres. Some of sions of the Divine Cremiyity which have We cannot save the planet anymore that to reap havoc. The next generation may this acreage is attainable and maintainable exploded into being for 20 billion years. we can destroy it completely. What is at have no choice. only with high energy Inputs. We must learn a fundamental principle stakeik^ whether or not we humans con­ John Weber is a psychologist at Wholistic If we simply divide six billion people of ecology: "Everything is connected to tinue to be part of God's eternal drama Growth Resources on the campus of the into this number we have 1.75 acres per everything else." Actually for a people called "creation". Franciscan Convent, Little Falls, MN. person. Feeding ourselves with this acre­ accustomed to the theological concept of Teilhard de Chardin predicted that "the age per person is possible only with high the Mystical Body of Christ with which day is not far distant when humanity will petroleum use and heavy inputs of agricul­ Please recycle this paper. many of us grew up, this is not really a new realize that biologically it is faced with a tural chemicals. Obviously as population idea. Only now, we must include every choice between suicide and adoration?" Share it with a friend. grows, even less land will be available. created being in God's universe as part of Which will we choose? the body ofthe Cosmic Christ! We who talk about living gently and Sisters of the Holy Names Paula Gonzalez is a Sister of Charity of Cin­ sustainably with the earth are challenged. . . .we must include every cinnati, Founder of Earth Connection, a cen­ We have no natural enemies to keep us in ter for learning about 'living lightly' on the ecological balance except for ourselves and sJiym created being as part of the Earth, & a former college biology professor. microbes. Each of us knows that life im­ body ofthe Cosmic Christ! poses limits. Gospel women for Suggested readings: Maturation brings acceptance of limits Liberating Action The Body of God, Sallie McFague, Fortress that are fought tooth and nail by three-year- Thus we leave God free to continue- Press 1993; Quantum Theology, Diarmuid For info or visit, contact perhaps infinitely—the magnificent evolu­ olds, teens, and midlifers. Our species Sr. Molly Neville, SNJM O'Murchu, Crossroad, 1997; Gaia and God, faces its own maturation. 26900 Patrick Avenue tionary process we have been calling cre­ Rosemary Radford Ruether, Harper Hoping for a technological fix forgets Hayward.CA 94544 ation. It is dynamic! it is now! It includes SanFrancisco, 1992;The Universe Story, Brian that many technological innovations have 510/785-9197 you and me as today's actors and actresses Swimme and Thomas Berry, Harper 1992. email [email protected] in the evolutionary story. been methods of using more concentrated What could be more exciting than to take up the challenge of our times and work • •'."• .%. The Uniyerse Is 'Expanding.!.*Are Yoti?. S •..'. at discovering the appropriate role of Homo sapiens in the Divine Drama! forksrto$s l($krn, Create, and Grow Brian Swimme perhaps puts it best: "The with some of the Passover Seder l-ffffTTTnTl new Cosmic Story emerging into human shaei Ziegler" leading thinkers and awareness overwhelms all previous con­ tem renewbl teachers of our time ceptions of the universe for the simple "!'tSBro|--, reason that it draws them all into its com­ ( MATTHEW FOX) ComMiiH^Hl prehensive fullness . . . Who can learn Joanna Mao$an0 Matthew Fox Djahgw: Jogus and the Buddha ( Joanna Macy ) Ocwnpte-Qo-pi what this means and remain calm?" 7:00 pm —$10-15 eliding scale In his new book, Quantum Theology: (Jerry Brown) Spiritual Implications of the New Phys­ _4/26J^tt^MMp^ and MjHtthew Fox Woftehop,: Jesus and the Buddha ^Clarissa Pinkola Estes) through fl^pmm ics, Diarmuid O'Murchu enunciates 12 ;$30-'^'-$$Qpm ^t^HttW/^^0.0k principles which can facilitate the explora­ ^^Wisance / $60 door (Harville Hendrix) Two-year v>iik<«yj tion of these exciting theological horizons. Sabbatical and &w$tcwfefc[ f6/221^M^|Pt*fctorkshops Luisah Teish FNwito'aM He reminds us that formal religion has 27 I Sawsafi^pi Most MM been around for "only about five percent of J#,MA [Jeremy Taylor) Courses Include! r8/1 1 humanity's spiritual journey — about the JP t^fflf^fo*- Sr.JosG Hobday, 16,' HarvUte Hsmdrix, David Abram, and last 70,000 years. Also astounding, at TmeRQkiy&Jm jgfhom &&!$$$ days of spiritual Spirituafitimp first, is the realization that humans in­ [mtftaliz0^t0oaeled after the U N I I T Y UC$M^.program. Seminars vented religion — in an effort, he suggests, : OFCREJ LTUALITY "Hr Si ^d 'a^as-meditatiort classes "to conquer and control the Godhead itself- Wftopa0c^mnts discover and frtysticslSt -that divine, mysterious force that fasci­ m^^^^lr own gifts, reconnect Indigmmus £%a ff§&*Sria,4fij nates, puzzles, and frightens us." mM^^-mys^cal heritage, and $$^mifi^^m0iusiasm for daily life. pcroetaaiF'' He then goes on to suggest that for |6iiJQ|lagiSft^&>n packet. httrw iet»fcfr.conVucs centuries religion "has been overshadow- Page 6 Catholic Women's NETWORK, May/June 1997 Feature MacGillis, Berry tellthe New Story

The New Story is a tale of our place in the universe. It is told through the lens We are just beginning to grasp the meaning of our planet, of our telescopes and microscopes along with the knowledge of how evolution has helped us evolve so far. This story thus brings with it a radical transformation in its overwhelming manifestation of life, its inner vitality and human self-understanding. intelligence, its capacity for ongoing transformation, for re­ Theologian Thomas Berry is one of the main tellers of this tale and Sister Miriam Theresa MacGillis is a foremost interpreter. She has given over 500 newal, for healing, for awareness and love. Miriam Theresa Macgiws workshops to help people understand and embody this new meaning of what it is to be human. What is the New Story: Do these rituals conflict with your Ca­ 12 Principles for Understanding the Universe and Based on our scientific explorations, we tholicism? the Role ofthe Human in the Universe Process can now understand the origin and process No because they are not formal liturgical out of which the universe has emerged and acts. The Christian tradition has a lack of by Thomas Berry, foremost theologian who blends spirituality and ecology with it the solar system, Earth, all of life, creativity in other dimensions of prayer and the human. For the first time all and ritual. A ritual allows us to explore and 1. The universe, the solar system, and planet Earth constitute for the human peoples of the Earth can understand this to connect with the natural world. origin story which places their own history, community the primary revelation of that ultimate mystery from which all things emerge into being. significance, and roles in a new light. What can people do to strengthen the How can we begin to live it? 2. The universe is a unity, an interacting and genetically-related community of sense of the sacredness of the Earth? beings bound together in an inseparable relationship in space and time. On We are beginning to realize that the self is Start where you live. Observe your neigh­ earth, each being is profoundly implicated in the existence and functioning of an expression ofthe deeper Earth self and borhood, yard, and home. If things are every other being on the planet. the even deeper Uni verse self— there are no sick, what are you doing to contribute to it? 3. The universe, from its start, is a psychic as well as a physical reality. separations. The whole is my whole self. Open up the kitchen cabinets, look at the 4. The three basic laws ofthe universe at all levels of reality are differentiation, When we begin to identify with the whole labels, and see what we're putting into our subjectivity, and communion. physical being ofthe planet, men we see the bodies and pouring down our drains. This necessity of enhancing and conserving the is an integral part of our spirituality. It is 5. The human is that being in whom the universe attains reflexive conscious­ integrity ofthe whole natural world. With­ critical to commit ourselves to being hope­ ness ofjtself. out the planet, we would not exist ful and to work for change, even if we won't 6. The earth, within the solar system, is a self-emergent, self-nourishing, self- live to see it happen. We can come together educating, self-governing, self-healing, self-fulfilling community. All life How does this transformation affect the and empower each other. systems in their being . . . must integrate their functioning within this larger complex of mutually dependent earth systems. past? Excerpted from In Context, No. 24. We carry the entire past. We are not 7. The genetic coding process is the process through which the world ofthe cutting it out. The major shift is in the living evolves, educates, and rules itself. concept of time and space. In the old Genesis Farm links 8. At the human level, genetic coding mandates a further trans-genetic cultural beliefs, time was cyclical, and the universe coding by which specifically human qualities find expression. fixed and static. In this new context, the ecology & spirituality 9. The emergent process ofthe universe is irreversible and non-repeatable in universe is a constantly emerging process. What is Genesis Farm? the existing world order. Movement from non-life to life on earth is a one-time Time itself is development, therefore ev­ It is a 140 acre farm wi-lled to the Domini­ event. So too the movement from life to the human form of consciousness.. . erything in the past is open to new develop­ can Sisters of Caldwell, NY. In 1973 10. The historical sequence of cultural periods can be identified as the tribal- ment. An acorn takes time to become a tree Miriam Theresa MacGillis, OP, left her shamanic periods, the classical civilization period of great religious cultures, but the tree is very different fromihe acorn. career as artist and teacher to become in­ the scientific-technological period, and the ecological period/^ You cant have one without the other. volved in justice and peace education. 11. The main human task is to assist in activating the intercommunion of all World hunger led her into agriculture and the living and non-living components of the earth community in the emerging ecological period of earth development. How does this affect religious traditions? systems-thinking. Her meeting with Tho­ mas Berry brought in the ecological aspect, 12. The art of achieving this goal is the art of intimacy and distance, the It will deepen and re-enliven their con­ capacity of beings to be totally present to each other while further affirming and nections. The difference is that the mean­ and her work at Genesis Farm helps to develop a spiritual dimension to ecology. enhancing the differences and identities of each. ings within the meanings have changed. The above have been slightly condensed. You wouldn't have Christ without the Ju­ Genesis Farm is daic Exodus event The Exodus holds the * An Ecological Learning Center for possibility ofthe paschal mystery of Christ's Earth studies. It is located in the farm­ life, death, and resurrection. house with a large teaching kitchen and some out-houses. It offers an 11 -week Photo Reflection What rituals do you use in the New accredited graduate certificate program by Story? offering hands-on ways for people to make I use the four elements of fire, air, earth, practical changes for coming into a closer and water because that is the basis of all relationship with nature. Fifteen graduate sacramental systems, the stuff of existence. credits are available with the pastoral min­ A favorite is the Evolutionary (Cosmic) istries program at St. Thomas University as Walk. We take a very long piece of rope an Ecology and Human Spirit specializa­ and make a large spiral in the room. The tion. rope is the timeframe ofthe universe which * Community Supported Biodynamic equals 15 billion years. Then we measure Garden (1988). Interested persons can buy off the major events that have happened shares in the garden which is run by hired and light candles as we note the formation gardeners who cultivate vegetables and an of the solar system, creation of the bio­ orchard. Food is grown for the sharehold­ sphere, etc. Then people walk that process ers in a responsible way. and try to experience it in their being. Genesis Farm is located at 41B Silver Lake Rd., Blairstown NY 07825

The Earth Pleads for Mercy Dear Mother, Photo and verse by AHene Goetze We don't often tell you how much you mean to us. An Eco-spirituality Retreat July 30-August 3 Sometimes we forget to say thank you for the food you give us. "The only way for us to heal, to recover, is to come home to the Often we are hurtful and put poisons in your soil or toxics in your water. whole community of life where we live." Mariam Therese MacGillis,OP We often forget you are a living being from whom we get our every breath. Day 1: The Cosmic Story—Christine Buce-Wilde On this Mother's Day — we promise to make every day a day to love you. Day 2: The Biblical Story—Marie-Eloise Rosenblatt, RSM Day 3: The Sin Against Creation—panel The United States has 5 percent ofthe world's population but 19 percent of its waste. Day 4: The Feminine Way & Hope for the Future-Patricia Ryan, RSM Cost: $175: $25 non-refundable deposit due with registration Among the 20 most industrially advanced countries, we rank 15th-19th in recycling. Checks payable to Sisters of Mercy. Deadline July 15, 1997 The anxiety in our bones, the distaste in our mouth, the boredom Mercy Center (415) 340-7417 of our children reflect the loss of our sense ofthe sacred. We must 2300 Adeline Drive, Burlingame, CA become contemplative. Only farmers who are truly contemplative will 94010-5599 heal the soil, the wheat, the animals. Miriam Therese MacGillis, O.P. May/June 1997, Catholic Women's NETWORK Page 7 Eprth is a living being Feature We need leaders and legal systems who recognize that Earth rights precede ours and that we have no rights at all if earth does not survive.

From trees and animals I have nothing trees in India floods Bangladesh; cutting to learn, I learn from human beings. the Amazon rain forest affects the climate Socrates everywhere. Pesticides in farm fields show up in Poor Socrates! groundwater, poisons pumped into the The Earth is in agony. If we are to save oceans are picked up by birds and fish and the planet, we need a new account of real­ returned to us in what we eat. If we ity, writes Lorna Green. We need to know continue, humans will be the first to go just who we are on the Earth, what Earth is, because we are at the top ofthe food chain. and what we are supposed to be doing here. Art by JoAnne Arnold The crisis on Earth is telling us that it is . .humans will be the first to time for a new classification of Being, one go because we are at the top of every living thing on earth. man problems around the globe are now that takes Earth into account. Contrary to * Divine — God is in the Earth, indeed the almost insoluble. Socrates' view, we have much to learn from the food chain. Earth is God under the accidents of shape, We need leaders and legal systems who trees and animals if we learn the languages texture, and color. Earth is now widely recognize that Earth rights precede ours they speak. * Conscious and spiritual - Earth is a calledGara, the Greek goddessofthe Earth. and that we have no rights at all if earth Lorna Green, who has lived for more conscious, spiritual being — intelligent, One tradition says that God is immanent in docs not survive. The Earth is a living than 14 years in the wilderness near Cape sentient, self-aware, with her own identity, the Earth. Earth is a form of Spirit, an organism and she may possess great pow­ Breton, Nova Scotia, finds that God can be of which we are a part. She is called she and embodiment of God in the physical plane of ers to heal herself. The people who cleaned experienced in the Earth at a level far below she has a deep interior life ofher own. We existence, a projection of God into the up the Thames thought it would take 20 that ofthe mind. God comes through the can be in dialogue with her many subjects. physical. God's reality is far beyond the years for salmon to return but they came in feelings, senses, our bodies, and deep psy­ With living beings we can communicate Earth yet Earth is an expression of God. five. We need to cooperate with the Earth ches. Earth al lows a mystical experience of spirit to spirit via the inner sense. Put your We must shift from the human-centered for her own desires for health. We need to God. hand on a tree and ask it about itself or the perspective to an Earth-centered perspec­ relate to the earth as a spiritual living Green finds four truths about the earth: Earth and how you can help. It will answer tive ~ back to the ancient beginnings, in a being, one that can touch our own spirit. If * Living - the whole Earth is one living you in images or words floating up from new way. we take up a relationship with the earth, we being. Living organisms self-regulate, your own depths. Animals also communi­ This means that Earth is the standard of can find ourselves returning to the holy. self-develop, self-heal. They maintain their cate, in images passed from soul to soul, all human activities and this change in state relatively constant and the Earth has more deeper than any human vocabulary. priorities is crucial if we are to bring hu­ Condensed from Earth Age, A New Vi­ done these things for millions of years with Let your cat lie on your stomach and see man civilization into balance with the lim­ sion of God, The Human and The Earth, Lorna Green, Paulist Press, 1994. Author no help from humans. the world from her view of grass blades and its of a living Earth. Green writes on metaphysics, spirituality, Every part interacts with and is depen­ hopping birds. Experience the woods as a A return to the earth can bring harmony. and ecologys. She lives in the batkwoods dent on another. Pollution circles the globe deer might. Ask permission to cut a flower. Note the case of the two California grey of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. in 11 days; radioactive fallout in Russia Our need is to change our attitude and whales trapped in arctic ice. It united the turns up in the rain over Ottawa; cutting practice respect and reverence for each and Americans, Russians and Canadians. Hu-

TTCfossroad Selection J&dW*0hamie$on ' Berry sees humans in denial Scarlet Music by Thomas Berry We are at a unique moment in the story of the planet earth. The Hildegard Of Bingem-A Novel human has developed a profound cultural pathology that leads the human to plunder the planet and exhaust its resources without considering the limits of capacity for self-renewal. Already the devastation inflicted on the surrounding world is bringing |$y^ig^tf$aititag prose) Joan about an interior devastation within humanity. With the loss ofthe outer Ohanneson has crafted an . •<- experience of these various life forms and the natural phenomena that surround unforgettable encounter with - us, the inner imaginative experience of humans is being diminished. Hildegard, the astonishing - The sublimity of existence, the range and grandeur of our poetry and visionary and prophet, artist music, the entire aesthetic and spiritual experiences, are all becoming limited and healer, whose music i§ and the inner hunger of the soul is not satisfied. ,§w,eeping the charts today. Yet a mood of denial has settled over the western world. For it is .Weaving into her text. • precisely the western world where these difficulties are fostered. This denial ,-H^egardT40wi|:^p^#leounts goes with a type of autism, an incapacity to recognize anything outside the $$ the Living Light,", the - human arid supposed human benefit. The world is a collection of objects to be authorbrings to,life the exploited as fully and rapidly as possibility with no understanding that nature is "feather on the breath of Godl an ever-renewing process while mechanistic processes do not renew them­ — Hildegard of Bingen, who selves. jittered stereojvpes ofe|I The problem is how to cure the autism: how to establish an education women, of saints, an&^&0tik;' for reciprocity rather than for exploitation, how to bring human communities to ..for. aQfgftoie. function as integral members of an Earth community that will prosper or decline together, how to establish an inter-species jurisprudence as welt as an IplJgfke] an episode of intcr-human jurisprudence. Masterpiece Theater at inmost People in the 20th century have for the most part never heard the ^pbsting and enlightening."--*- voices ofthe winds, the mountains and rivers, the woodlands and meadows and EugpyeKamedy all living creatures in the land and sea and air. If they had, they would surely have responded with the awe and reverence that the peoples of the Earth have !^hanneson has dramatized known from paleolithic times. 0-8245-1646-X '$H95 paperback the life of 12th-century The above is condensed and reprinted from the Forward in Earth Age, A New Hildegard of Bingen iii this Vision of God, the Human and the Earth, Lorna Green, Paulist Press, 1994 fascinating novel. Highly recommended." — libraryJournal Happiness is... being a Missionary!

Do you think you have a religious missionary voca­ tion? If so, we invite you to find out more about MMM (Medical Missionaries of Mary) by contacting Siser Cheryl Blanchard THE CROSSROAD PUBLISHING COMPANY PO Box 1436 370 Lexington Avenue,NX, N.Y. 10017 Chula Vista, CA 91912 Fax: (2121532-4922 or Caim800r-395-0690 Page 8 Catholic Women's NETWORK, May/June 1997 Feature

Women's most direct connection to nature is our embodiedness — the ability to repro­ duce and mother.

May you be praised, my Lord, for sister earth, our mother, who peet bears and feeds us, and produces the variety of fruits and dappled flowers and grasses . . . Canticle ofthe Creatures, St Francis of Assisi

Feminism is the only serious, coherent, and universal philosophy that offers an alternative to patriarchal thinking and structure.. Marilyn French Women and the earth Women, the Earth, the Divine is the title ofa book by Eleanor Rae, founder ofthe Center for Women, the Earth and the Divine in Ridgefield, CT. The following is the result ofher research and writing. loc Marilyn Waring, formerly of the New Zealand parliament, researched the economic condition of the worlds's women and found that the economic systems worldwide treat both women and the Earth in fundamentally the same way: as «___*&*•._£_£ >\ •" **. »' ,'1'^iZ invisible and valueless and therefore for men's free use. :.4v ^-y•____• -«-«-*« ••«•_? ___^-Vv- Maria Miles in Women: The Last Colony argues that women and subjugated peoples are treated as if they were means of production or natural resources, similar to water, air, and land. Author Vandava Shiva finds that women are initially devalued because their work cooperates with nature's processes, and secondly, because work which meets Commonalities among women basic needs and ensures sustenance is devalued in general. All women share the experience of being oppressed by patriarchy but they In 1967 Lynn White, Jr, argued that the root cause ofthe ecological crisis also share positive experiences: could be found in the Western attitude toward nature, fostered by Jewish and Christian * Embodiedness - women see their bodies as a primary source of revelation and traditions, that nature's only purpose for existing was to serve humankind. He said, interconnectedness with creation. "Since the roots of our trouble are so largely religious, the remedy must also be * They have the ability to dream and to envision their own dreams and visions and essentially religious." not rely on those of men. The earliest roots of ecology as a religious issue can be seen in the * They have a critical core of five traits suggested by Devaki Jain: a desire for peace, matricentric age with its presence of the Great Goddess. She symbolized an under­ a sense of care, the rejection of hierarchy, the capability for self-reliance, and a sense standing of all of creation as being part ofthe mystery of life— a mystery which held of tradition. within it the elements of death and regeneration and fertility. Women have the ability to bring about a new world-view, but in the U.S. we live in denial of reality. Women are needed to come out of denial and recognize what Women's situation today is happening with both women and the earth. 1975 was tile Intranational Women's Year, starting the International Women's Decade. It was a time to rectify the fact that women did two-thirds of the Ecofeminism world's work, received ten percent of all income, and owned one percent ofthe means Ecofeminism is the coming together of ecology and feminism by those who of production. Rather than improving women's lot, the decade passed with the see the link between the domination of women and of nature. Women and the earth situation of women becoming worse. are viewed as having usefulness rather than as having intrinsic worth in their own Did women ever have a status equal to or superior to men? There is no right, notes Val Plumwood. written language that proves this to be true, but artifacts of archeologists indicate that The term was first used in 1974 by Francoise d'Eaubonne and signifies it is quite possible. "women's potential for bringing about an ecological resolution to ensure human Marija Gimbutas used about 2,000 symbolic artifacts, dated from 7000 B.C.E. survival on the planet." to 3500 B.C.E. which were found in Old Europe as the basis for her work on the Great Carolyn Merchant finds there are three paths to follow: Goddess. These symbols which represent the "grammar and syntax of a kind of meta­ * a study of political theory and cultural history language", give us a world view ofthe culture of Old Europe. Gimbutas finds it * journey through exposure to nature-based religion, one which honors the female, egalitarian, nonviolent,-Earth-centered and matrilineal. She presents the Great which has nature as its scripture, and with a focus on immanence rather than tran­ Goddess in her four major aspects: life giver, eternal Earth mother, death giver- scendence. regeneratrix, and as energy. * involvement in environmental issues such as Green politics. Scholars from other disciplines have found in the findings ofthe archeolo­ Persons first associated with the movement were women like Rachel Baglcy, gists a reason to accord to women who lived in the time when the Great Goddess was Lois Gibbs, and Carol von Strom who struggled to protect the health of their families worshiped a social prestige they do not have today. and neighborhoods. Riane Eisler writes that with the Kurgan invasions, the Goddess was reduced The coming together of ecology and feminism can be viewed as a natural to wife or consort ofthe male deities and women were gradually reduced to the status development in that both share common goals. Both see that humanity and nature they were to hold thereafter: male-controlled technologies of production and reproduc­ have equal value and that conflicts must be solved by considering the good ofthe tion. whole as well as ofthe interconnectedness of all parts. Although die Mother Goddess held a foremost place in mythology (often Ecology and feminists both view the earth's house and human house as places with demonic traits given her by patriarchy), women began to lose parity with men — to be cherished, to sustain life rather than destroy it. Cooperation and reciprocity are both in their social status and their own view of themselves. Both in home and values to both. economy, the social division of labor lost its equal features and acquired an increas­ ingly hierarchical form. Men's work became superior to women's. Woman and the nature connection Women have always been connected closely with nature. In the Western Possible ways to respond world we speak of virgin timber and rape ofthe land. Women are called chicks and * Power - The word means "to be able" and can be cither negative or positive. In its foxes, and in some places women and nature are not dealt with because they are put on negative form, it has evolved to mean "having control over.** History celebrates the a pedestal. In the eastern world, the patriarchal worldview understands destruction to men who have the most control over people and things. God became viewed as a be production and the regeneration in life, as in both nature and women, to be passiv­ being with the most power over others. ity. In a positive way, power means "power tor"— to have power to be what I When nature is respected, it works for women's benefit. When the attitude is am. It is a quality that enables us to create and give life. Scripture associates power one of rape and plunder, then women suffer. When women and nature were honored, with the Holy Spirit. The weak as well as the strong have power. One power ofthe divinity was immanent, but now that women and nature are controlled by men, weak is to question the strong and to unify for rights, to create and ritualize a vision. divinity is transcendent. In the United States the feminist movement arose as women struggled for the Present day response to this situation comes in two ways: right to vote, receive equal pay, hold jobs, buy houses, etc. The vision has failed to * the negative response calls for the severance of women from nature and the* unify women in various ways philosophically but also racially. Some African Ameri­ integration of women into culture can women are evolving the womanist movement, separating themselves from the * the positive way is to celebrate the women/nature connection. This can take the feminist one which is seen as one for more privileged white women. form of adversary actions against the patriarchy or in creation a new kind of culture. May/Junel997, Catholic Women's NETWORK Page 9 Feature

There are many ways we can heal the earth — parenting, politics, spirituality, an Earth- conscious diet, study.

* The body ofthe goddess is used in some way by a male to create the world. In the Babylonian epic of creation, Enuma Elish, the male god Marduk destroys the female, goddess Tiamat who was originally the creator of all. * The male god acts alone to create the world. This is the modern belief used in the creation story found in the two accounts in Genesis. If Campbell's stages are correct, they give graphic evidence of how myth can change a world-view at different times in the Earth's story. Universe as sacred Some creation myths invite hearers to see Creation as sacred. Hindu, goddess and Native American religions view creation as sacred. This idea was not incorpo­ rated into Christianity possibly because of cosmic dualism ~ the view that God is of ultimate value and the material universe of no intrinsic worth. (Grace Jantzen) She finds this was constructed to justify patriarchy ~ the dominant ruling class males over others ~ women, poor, etc. This is not found in the bible but more recently in Plato and Descartes. Theologically it is grounded in teachers as diverse as Origen and Illustrations by JoAnne Arnold Augustine who held that our human creation in God's image pertained only to mind and not body. Women's most direct connection to nature is our embodiedness ~ the ability Contemporary cosmic scholars have written about the New Story which gives to reproduce and mother. Beverly Harrison notes that "the perpetuation of patriarchal us all a single origin story, one which gives meaning to all the Earth's enterprises. We control itself depended on wresting the power of procreation from women." She can all share the basic story about the stars, planets, galaxies, life forms, minerals, and includes the church's teaching on birth control and abortion as problems in this area. human cultures. Within this universal context, wc celebrate our unique spiritualities, How is the pro-life pro-choice situation resolved by ecofeminists? Patricia Mills finds histories, cultures, etc. the two contradictory, but Rae finds that choice is a fact with humans and that non- Neither the scientific nor religious world has come to accept the single story conceiving needs to be taken more seriously. yet. The scientific community rejects the religious values associated with the New The ecofeminist today needs to offer a positive evaluation ofthe role of Story and the religious community emphasizes redemption in the next world and mothering (parenting) which is realistically the most important role a human can generally ignores the natural present one. have. A post-patriarchal society would be based on the understanding that all are part Thomas Berry is one ofthe first to write the New Story. of nature. After the galactic system emerges, after hydrogen turns into helium and the stars take shape as oceans of fire in the heavens.. after some explode into Stardust Instrumentalism |j|y out of which the solar system and earth take shape.. after earth expresses itself in This views women and nature as being useful, not as having intrinsic worth rock and crystalline structures, then the human emerges not only as an earthling of their own. This includes the way we poison the earth and eat animals. Both are but as a worldling. We bear it in bur beings as the universe bears us in its being. part ofthe dominance of power over others. The two have a total presence to each other and to that deeper mystery out of which Dualism both the universe and ourselves have emerged. Dream of the Earth Dualism is the theory which admits in any given domain, two independent Christianity has the challenge of helping us see how creation is seen through and mutually irreducible substances (Dictionary of Philosophy). Some related to the eyes of scientific knowledge of evolution. Christian theology can contribute to ecofeminism include: God and the world, creation and redemption, men and women, cosmology by asking questions and pointing to possible answers: What is the role of public and private. divinity today? It appears that Divinity continues to create. How are humans respon­ Grace Jantzen speaks ofthe cosmic dualism as the split between God and the sible as co-creators in the evolving mystery of life? world. God is of ultimate value and the material universe of no intrinsic worth. Jantzen finds this was justification for patriarchy. The dominant group of ruling class Values ofthe earth males constructed a world-view which put them over normative humanity, over Both the scientific and religious values are necessary. against the "other"-- women, races,the poor, and the earth and then fashioned in their * Sustainability means we will provide for ourselves in such a way that we don't own image a God of ultimate value, power, and rationality over against the passivity reduce the ability of future generations to do likewise. More is not always better. and irrationality of the opposite side. Francis Moore Lappe asks about beef: For whom is more beef better? Not the This goes against the reality that we are all parts ofthe universe, since it consumer who suffers more heart attacks; not the atmosphere which gets more creates a chasm between humans and the rest of the universe. methane gases; not the forest which are destroyed by grazing cattle; and not the Complementarity creatures who were once alive. Through human thinking as well as the force of nature, there is evidence of "True affluence is not needing anything," poet Gary Snyder writes. opposites being held together in a delicate balance. If the balance is not maintained, In the 1980s a study showed 15 million people were basing their lives ftilly or the whble system, as well as its parts, suffers. partly on such values as frugality, human scale, self-determination, ecological aware­ The One and the Many ness and personal growth. What is now the lived reality for a few must become the Present history finds us with an overemphasis on the individual —homeless new value system of all. wander the streets, and water and air are being destroyed without considering the * Transformation future of our children's needs. We have a need to move toward a society which s As we transform ourselves, we transform our world, writes Julie Scofield considers the needs of all as a whole, rather than primarily as individuals. Russell. There are many ways we can heal the earth ~ parenting, politics, spirituality, an Earth-conscious diet, study. Our motivation to change is critical, for nothing will Cosmology change if we do it for the wrong reasons. Nothing would change if we reenterd the Where did the earth come from? How long will it last? natural evolution merely to rescue our hides from ecological catastrophe. Only the In recent years we have gone from thinking the individual was the pinnacle most spontaneous desire to be natural (creative and intrinsically human) can justify of all visible creation to knowing that the Earth is a minor planet in a minor solar our very right to reenter natural evolution as conscious social beings. system in a minor galaxy in a universe with perhaps a hundred billion galaxies. In Environmental issues arc social justice issues. It is the poor who must work this light, the role of one human seems incredibly insignificant, yet it appears that we with the pesticides, whose neighborhoods host toxic waste incinerators, who cannot are the ones who have the knowledge and intelligence to contemplate scientifically buy bottled water or organic foods. They are also women's issues since women sicken, how this universe began. starve and die from toxins, droughts, and famines; their capacity to bear new life is threatened by polluting; and they bear the brunt of care for the sick and dying as well as the next generation, writes Starhawk. Creation myths Rather than a transformation, Marilyn French believes we need a moral The function of myth is to explain the creation ofthe universe and the order revolution. of humankind. It is not accidental but purposeful. In creation myths Joseph Campbell found them evolving through four stages: (views that foreshadowed modern science): Credits: The previous has been condensed from Women, the Earth, the * The world is created by a goddess alone. The oldest myth speaks of the Sumerian Divine by Eleanor Rae, founder ofthe Center for Women, the Earth, and the deity Mannu, the Mother who gave birth to heaven and earth as well as all the deities and decided that humans should also be born. Divine, in Ridgefield, Ct and co-author of Created in Her Image. * The world is created by a goddess with an assistant. An example is Gaia, the Earth, who alone created Heaven and mated with him to create the deities of the Feature material on these two pages heavens. has been compiled by Arlene Goetze. RF

Page 10 Catholic Women's NETWORK, May/June 1997 Feature Swinne tells cosmic creation story V_T*M**5 kJ-lIIlS-ll-t} and 1^1 amia ~ Creation stories provide cohesion for each society.

framework for spirituality One solution Brian Swinne offers as a poets tell the story. They will draw forth proposal for leading us out of the dying the poetic and mystical meanings beyond the facts and theories we now have. There are many ways to outline the world around us is for people to tell cosmic A sample story beginning: spiritual life: the Interior Castle of Teresa Christians describe the earth creation stories. Children gather around an older wise of Avila, the dark nights of John of the He sees it as a central political and as the Body of Christ, rather woman. She picks up a piece of granite and Cross, twelve stages of h u m i 1 i ty of Benedict, economic act of our time which will inau­ says: or the three Ways of classical ascctical- than the body of an earth gurate a new era of human and planetary At the beginning ofthe Earth, the whole mystical theology of purgation, illumina­ mother goddess. health and transform us out of the world planet was a boiling sea of molten rock. tion and union. that is. 11*11 We revere rocks because everything has Another framework is Gaia, Samsara, In mis phase ofspiritua l growth we see that A cosmic creation story is that which come from them —continents and moun­ and Narnia. the earth, the flesh, the world is ephemeral: satisfies the questions asked by humans tains, trees, oceans and your bodies. The Gaia is the name chosen by the ancient fleeting,changing, passing, ultimately dy­ fresh out ofthe womb. Small children ask rocks are your grandmothers and grandfa­ Greeks for the Earth Mother goddess. The ing. It is contingent, finite and. terribly cosmic questions — Where did everything thers. When you remember all who have word has come into prominence through limited. come from? What is going on? Why are helped you in thus life, you begin with the the Gaia Hypothesis of British scientist Here wc are exiled from the Garden of you doing such and such anyway? rocks. James Lovelock who finds, "The entire Eden. Wc see the garden as spoiled, in­ By cosmic creation story, Swinne means She holds up the rock: range of living matter on Earth, from whales vaded with weeds among the wheat. Jacques. the accounts of the universe told around Do you hear it singing? People used to to viruses, from oaks to algae, can be Maritain calls it a "crucified Paradise." evening fires for most of the last 50,000 think there was no music in the rocks. But regarded as constituting a single living In this phase we feel the pain of exile as years. These cosmic stories were the way some rocks became: Mozart and showed entity." "poor banished children of Eve, mourning the first humans introduced their young to their music as Mozart. This is startling to modern science but and weeping in this valley of tears." (Salve the world. She holds up rich loamy soil. assumed by most primitive peoples and Regina) Wc experience Samsara in our With rituals, traditions, taboos, ethics, Every rock is a symphony but the music Christian mystics. The theory describes weakness, physical and moral and mental. techniques, customs and values, all had a of soil soars beyond capture in human the Mystical Body of Christ. Christians We feel illness, aging and death. This core in the story. Such a story provided language. We had to go into outer space to describe the earth as the Body of Christ, resembles the sorrowful Mysteries ofthe cohesion for each society. realize how rare and unique soil is. Only rather than the body of an earth mother rosary. As humans enter the world, each must the Earth created soil, there is none on the goddess. Narnia is the eternal phase. It corre­ find her story with this great epic of being. moon or Mars or Venus. Earth ... the most Hebrew and Christian scriptures speak sponds to the mystery of the resurrection Schools teach stores of fact about how the and the glorious mysteries ofthe rosary. world began and developed but these are extraordinary creative being of the solar of the story of human intimacy with the system, required four billion years to cre­ earth. Genesis tells us God formed us "out Teresa of Avila teaches, "All things human stories, not cosmic ones. The uni­ pass, but God never changes." God alone verse and Earth are merely backdrbpto the ate topsoil. We worship and nurture and ofthe dust ofthe ground" and to it we will protect the soils of the Earth because all return. suffices. We must move from the chang­ tales. The oceans and forest are merely the stage for humans. music and all life and all happiness come Francis of Assisi spoke of his kinship ing, mediated, created being of the earth into the unchanging, unmediated (imme­ Swinne believes all our disasters today from the soil. The soils are the matrix of with Brother Sun and Sister Moon, Brother human-joy. Wind and Sister Water, Brother Fire and diate), uncreated being ofthe Godhead. are directly related to our having been The story travels through the waves and Sister Earth, — "our mother who feeds us in Our perishable nature will become im­ raised in cultures that ignored the cosmos stars. her sovereignty and produces various fruits perishable and our moral nature will put on for an exclusive focus on the human. We She ends with rocks, soils, waves, stars. and colored flowers and herbs." immorality. use trees and land and water but have never As storytellers tell their story in IO,QQ0r ^ Hildegard of Bingen, a medieval C.S. Lewis wrote his famous Chronicles been initiated into the values ofthe uni­ languages throughout the planet, they bind Rhineland mystic, praises the earth as the of Narnia, about the land symbolic of verse. 1 mother of all that is natural and human, heaven, the future home as well as of Gaia, Science has misIed^s^^^rf^^F^nle us to them in our emotions, our spirits,totfr i "die mother of all, for contained in her arc the earth home. In the Chronicles, the story ofthe Sun as a God when we knew the minds and our bodies. The Earth and the the seeds of all." central figure of Asian the Lion is Christ, . sun is a locus of thermonuclear reactions? universe speak in all this. The cosmic creation story is the way in Authentic Christian mystics arc notori­ Asian says one does not go back to the old All humans now have a common cosmic which the universe is inaugurating the next ously earthy. They love the earth and take Narnia (earth) because that is not the real story. All nations can agree in a basic sense era of its ongoing journey. good care of it. In the Gaian phase of Narnia but that which mattered in the Old on the birth ofthe Sun, development ofthe human adventure, we recognize we are (Earth) will be drawn into the New (heaven). Earth, species of live and human cultures. Condensed from "The Cosmic Creation made out ofthe earth and we say, "this is Like Narnia, the Kingdom of God is in For the first time in life, wc have a story not Story, "by Brian Swinne, Readings in Ecol­ my body." This makes the Gaian phase our midst. We are eternal, we are eternal tied to one culture but which gathers all ogy and Feminist Theology, edited by eucharistic. Wc give thanks as wc cel­ now. Wc can experience Narnia now, the into its meanings. ebrate our oneness, since eucharist means fullness of life before death, not merely Cosmic stories unite people, and ours is Mary Heather MacKinnon and Moni "thanksgiving." after death. We touch the eternal in time not yet complete. That will happen when Mclntvre, Sheed and Ward, 1995. when we live fully on the spot where we are, The first phase of our spiritual growth which is another description ofthe contem­ focuses on the mysteries of creation and plative way of life. incarnation, the joyful mysteries of the If you would like a bundle of this Rosary. The Gaian phase is the Garden of issue (5 to 30 copies), send $4 in Paradise. Condensed from "Gaia—Samsara— SAN DAMIANO Narnia" by Tess Bielecki, OCD, Embrac­ postage. Please help us deliver to Samsara is a Sanskrit word used by RETREAT Hindus and Buddhists to refer to the rela­ ing Earth, Catholic Approaches to Ecol­ others who might be interested. tive, finite, phenomenal quality ofth e world. ogy, Orbis Books, Maiykno/l, NY 1994. RETREATS

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May/June 1997, Catholic Women's NETWORK Page 11

Mother Earth... in my life Columns

An apprentice confesses Women become saviors, The Earth is ours subversive activity caretakers of insects and by Suzanne Young Cupertino. CA by Michele Kinser by Betty Neville Michelozzi skunks and injured birds. Frontera, CA Corralitos, CA Michele Kinser I applied for the gardening position know­ ing full well that based on my experience, "The earth is the Lord's, and the fullness Each spring the Garden Spirit calls me I wouldn't get it. For heaven's sake, I was thereof." to herself. The drumbeats of earth, air, fire Purchases of consumer goods are scruti­ raised in the desert watering dirt and rak­ Sometimes the earth is a fragile child and and water stir my primal being as they nized. I often bless my frugal childhood. ing patterns in the sand. Mother Nature a strong taskmaster testing awaken seed. Tiny shoots thrust forth, One (or no) garbage can and a healthy However, I think I won the interviewers its obedience. But at times the earth is drawing me to my knees as 1 lovingly set house are my mottoes —sustainable living with my response to the question: "What healer of souls and a safe harbor for those out the fledgling tomatoes, pepper, beans, that cares for others is my goal. I hope these do yo bring to this work?" searching for meaning. corn, basil, and other delights. I am nature. small works make up for my careless mis­ My honest reply was "Enthusiasm. En­ From my window this morning 1 watched For years, I avoided such messy work for use ofthe earth. thusiasm and a great desire to learn." a fellow inmate watering the grass. There more pristine activities, childhood grub­ While care ofthe earth links me to the This happened last summer during a was a beautiful exchange between soil and bing in the mud set aside. Still memories ecological and spiritual, it also has the time of intense loss, grief, and transition. soul. The earth became saturated and lingered. I could recall with delight my seeds ofa wholesome economic and politi­ Working in the earth with her abundant nourished; the soul absorbed the nurturing Uncle Charlie's vegetable garden with its cal reality. It poses the questions: gifts offered me a balance to all my sadness of the earth's abundant gifts. minuscule fish pond. I diligently planted Where did this come from and How? and exhaustion. She proceeded to kneel down in the petunia seedlings he gave me and struggled What campesino in Latin America had his The initiation into my new work as a muddy masterpiece she had just created to grow seeds in the hard soil next to our land taken by agribusiness, was beaten gardener came in the form of house-sitting and began pulling weeds. As I walked past Chicago "two-flat." down by his own militarized government, in the Santa Cruz mountains for several her, 1 asked why she did this every morn­ Now I am back to my roots, quite literally. endured the dangers of pesticides for a weeks. My friend, Susan, had spent hours ing. My Italian father-in-law brought me tiny, pittance, to grow food for me? preparing and planting lettuce, beans, to­ "It is good therapy," she replied. "It is limp seedlings wrapped in wet newspa­ What Latina or Asian woman is locked matoes and squash. healing." pers. To let them die felt like little murders. in her factory at night, often physically and She entrusted me with her garden which And so say the women who plant and I struggled out to plant them. The garden sexually abused, her children left alone, also contained a delightful variety of flow­ tend the flowers neatly surrounding the reclaimed me. I dig potatoes now and find earning a tiny fraction ofthe sales price to ers. The peach tree's fruit ripened, giving prison housing units. They touch the earth my Irish ancestors in the mists ofthe old make the garment I hold? me and associates a joyful miracle: sliced, and the earth touches them ~ a dichotomy sod. My corn grows tall and brings me I use it reverently. A friend who studied sauced, baked and frapped, an endless de­ of sorts, the beauty of nature pressed up close to my newly-made Mayan friends. As landfills in San Jose said at least one major light. against the ugliness of human confine­ well as my Christian roots, I value those department store chain sends its mounds of I also spent time resting on the grass, ment. Perhaps a meaning lies within as we ancient wisdoms that teach that earth-care unsold clothes to the dump. Care of the pressing my ear to the earth, listening for reap so shall we sow. is people-care. earth may pull one out of "mainstream the great heartbeat and watching the mi­ There are those who stand in awe ofthe I leave my garden on occasion, some­ madness." It is a subversive activity! crocosm of bugs and ants. sunsets as they look beyond a fence with times reluctantly, to seek another kind of The sterile landscaping of much of our The creek that ran through the property silver twine about its brim. A reminder garden, beautiful in its own way. 1 go to country causes me to question my need to sang me gentle lullabies and love songs. that only one's dreams and hopes can es­ help Habitat for Humanity grow simple tame the wild and wage my own war on This wasn't just poetry, it was the actual cape. house that rise out of Guatemalan corn­ weeds. In my own garden wildlife drifts in experience of being cared for by the Great Trees in fragrant bloom offer shade to fields, trouble spots in Belfast, North Ire­ and out to reclaim their space and create Mother. passers-by and a woman needing some­ land, Delta dirt in Mississippi, and locally. intoxicating moments. When I arrived at the Marianist Center thing to love and care for stands begging I am always glad I do. Exquisite jewel-like humming birds in July as the resident host and part-time for contributions of food for her "babies", No more do I discard things in the hover to drink at the hose 1 hold; fat birds gardener, 1 continued my education in the the cats, who find contentment in this landfill. Each bottle, bag, and box is empty the bird bath with their wild wash­ names of plants and trees: agapanthas, place. frugally saved, re-used, recycled or refilled ing; butterflies dance with delight. In this cana, forte-night lily, azaleas, asparagus And they hear her voice and run like the at the natural foods store. Books make the hidden, gently subversive garden world, fern, yarrow, birch, and others. wind to greet her. She is fulfilled to be for rounds of friends. Our compost bin is host the Earth Spirit sustains me. She is my I learned how to pull up certain wild a moment needed and loved. The earth and to many critters, every worm a friend. teacher, my friend, my privilege. grasses so as to take the seed in the root, to all it holds becomes a source of peace and distinguish weeds from ground cover, and sanity to us. Coming next issue... , to prune manzanita and roses. I learned not Flowers blooming in a field nearby bring Money! Is k rea |y the root of a|| evi|? to cut the dead stalks from the Shasta about a reminder that some things remain Is it your goal in life? The reason you work? daisies until the new growth began to show. normal and that life goes on. Women Does your self-esteem or personal value depend From this magnificent planet I have become saviors, caretakers of insects and on how much money you earn? watched the subtleties of sun and clouds, skunks and injured birds. Is giving money the same as doing good works? wind and rain, heat and frost. We celebrate The earth and nature provide a momen­ the solstices and equinoxes with a laby­ tary purpose for our being which saves us What about stewardship? rinth in the grass. from our sense of being forgotten at times. Tell us your stories about money in your life. Does it get in the way Each night as I do my ritual lock-up, I A woman captures a butterfly in her grasp of spirituality and your relationship with God? No poetry please. look for the moon to find her location and and studies its beauty. Gently, she opens shape as well as the shifting placement of her hands and speaks, "There, it is free Send your essays, 400 words or so, to CWN by June 1. If your article is used, you stars. now!" will receive a copy of our book. Women on the Way, plus a subscription to CWN. I celebrate the birth of camellias after A flower opens in the morning sun and a they have grown and strained for months to woman smiles. It is a blessing, both the be born. I practice mindfulness as I use the flower and the smile. Like children, some dagger to remove all varieties of weeds. pick dandelions and walk barefoot through Center for Gerontology, Spirituality & Faith, Stanford Geriatric Education Each activity involves me in the earth's the green grass. We are fortunate that Center, Markkula Center for Applied Ethics, Santa Clara University, and rhythms of bloom and decay. nature is here for us, and we arc its keepers. Gerontology Program, San Jose State University present I am a precious speck in all of this RoseS bloom; they arc the product ofthe change: nature reflecting my life's process. earth, the fruit of humanity's need for con­ I take hope and heart from each of these tinuing miracles. And as its petals fade and Assault on Aging: What Power Do We Have? natural patterns knowing that all is as it it dies, a woman speaks, "There, it is free An Ethical/Spiritual Approach needs to be. now!" Birth, life, change, and death gives way May God the Creator of all the earth to the continuous cycles of birth, life, continue to bless us with the joys of nature led by Msgr. Charles J. Fahey, S.J. change, and death. and the fullness ofthe earth! Founder of Third Age Center, Fordham University and recent president of American Society on Aging

ta ie ii Ue&titKf ^ Women's Transformation Group * Explore pathways of empowerment to hue ii UoLf, Friday. Mav 16 Starts May 13, 7-8:30 and compassion in everyday ethical A JleialuU 8:30 am - 3:30 pm Learn to connect with your decisionmaking at Immanuel Lutheran • Open to all caregivers, clergy and feminine aspects. Get to Church • Los Altos, CA ^rt know yourself at a deeper religious, parish ministers, chaplains, nurses, social workers, administra­ level through art, move­ Fee $45 includes lunch ment, visualization, music, tors, therapists and ritual. 510.6533486 Piedmont Ave.Area Call 408/253-4300, Ex 16 for info or to register Sliding Scale Oakland, CA Diane Melone, MFCC 408.866.7946 Center for Gerontology, Spirituality & Faith J» Page 12 Catholic Women's NETWORK, May/Junel997

Columns Guest Column Window into Prison A homecoming Compost speaks by Susan Setteducato by Vonda White The Township left two big piles of mulch Long ago, I was a hue child of nature: at the top of he hill. They sat like birthday dirt and 1 were one, and all of the world and cakes waiting to be cut. I stood before one / was the mulch pile, the lay­ its living things were my playground and ofthe piles with my pitchfork poised, but ers of my existence smolder­ friends. I became more sophisticated as I As more children came, my for some reason I felt hesitant to stab the grew older, and when I separated myself ing inside me. ability to connect with nature, mound of decomposing wood chips and from my parents in order to become an rotting logs. individual, I left Mother Earth behind as became less and less. Something stirred in me; a memory or a well. Certainly I had done such a thing. I had straggling herbs and vegetables gone to familiarity, a shadow of something roam­ I came to dwell in the land ofthe mind at combusted from my own heat; the heat of seed in outlying corners of the 50 square ing around on the periphery of my mind first and then in the adult realm in which all the pain and anger rotting inside me acre prison compound. that I couldn't quite catch and hold to get a my connection with the earth meant tend­ year after year. And finally I had cut into What I saw when I first came was a wide look at. ing a kitchen garden. I was still part ofthe it, with a knife of truth, a blade of willing­ expanse of grass, trees and sky, circum­ But there was a hillside of rhododen­ creative cycle, though I didn't know it. ness. And the heat and stench had rolled scribed by fences and broken up by several drons that needed a blanket on their feet, so After having several children, I discov­ over me and laid me on the ground. low buildings. Few flowers existed except I shook off the feeling, abandoned the hunt, ered die necessity of going within—simply But I had let the light in and the air, and in a couple of isolated cottage gardens. and took a first stab at the pile. being —as a child lives. I made some tenta­ I had spread the old things out around me Within two years, I had established a It was soft and moist (German Choco­ tive stabs at reuniting with Mother Earth, so that they could be made useful, so that garden that 1 kept for six years. As that late), and I lifted a forkful off the pile and but it wasn't a conscious homecoming. new things could grow around me and in garden flourished, I also flourished. I let it fall into the wheelbarrow. Again I I remember during the last hard months me that were good and beautiful and even began to see sunsets once more and falling sunk the fork in, and again I watched the in carrying my fourth child, 1 found myself nourishing. rain brought much contentment. I kept soft substance tumble off the fork like some wandering out to the garden at the end ofa And the experience of pain and hurt a journal and attended art and writing moist cake made by a plump grandmother. day, idly nicking and eating fresh green could help me to keep the weeds down, so classes. I would have stayed in this particu­ Again and again, I took bits from the pile, beans from the growing stalks and pluck­ that I wouldn't be choked again. lar healing place but for an incident that and images of old women and older trees ing and consuming plum after ripe plum took away my complacency and garden all and the seasons of leaves and branches And I saw that in my life, in each season, from our bounteous trees. Once again I at the same time. danced through my head. things would continue to be born and die, joyously became a part of life's processes. and that in this cycle I was kin to every­ I worked in the kitchen then and at the The musky, fruity, moist odor of layers As more children came, my ability to thing on the Earth. end of one work day, I headed for the of life decomposing transported me to my connect with nature, became less and less. I could celebrate birth and mourn death, backyard of my cottage to sec the garden, childhood spent raking leaves, jumping in I became slowly deadened to nature's beau­ but in the end it would not matter because lovely in the southern California fall. the piles, rooting through the woods by the ties; I had no time anymore, and some of both are necessary. Both are sacred. When 1 came to where I had left the tracks, the Halloween nights with October my life's realities were brutal and savage. Susan Setteducate is a freelance writer garden that morning, all I could sec was in my veins, the crisp orange and brown Coming to prison brought mc to an and artist in Kingston, New Jersey. abrupt halt in some ways, and in others, it bare earth! A yard crew had removed every days, the angles of geese wheeling in grey plant that day— to be relocated in better skies . .. opened for me, the time and means to go This column was previously printed in places I was told. The mulch pile was me. I watched smoke within and to unfold as a child again. EarthLight, a nationally distributed That single insensitive act changed the rise from its belly like the wrcathy steam My rebirth started in county jail with a quarterly magazine designed to inform, course of things for me. I suppose 1 could from the gut ofa fresh-killed deer. The pile volunteer worker who described herself as inspire and empower individuals and' have started another garden but the life had was alive, dead matter actively cooking, a "horticultural therapist." Her projects communities. Its goal is sustainable gone out of it for me. breaking down, boiling and processing the gave me a place of safety in a very harsh lifestyles. life that had gone before. I was the mulch environment. She brought in compost, I threw myself into nurturing people pile, the layers of my existence smoldering Subscriptions are $18 per year. Pub­ rich and warm, to enrich the poor soil ofthe instead of plants and came to realize that lisher is the Religious Society of Friends this is where I needed to be now. 1 have inside me. jail yard. (Quakers). Address is 1558 Mercy St., The heat in the center was intense. I Within a few months we had built a cold- never again quite lost my Mother Earth Mountain View, C A 94041.415.960.1767 connection. wonder if this lump of decomposing matter frame and started seedlings to transplant. could burst into flames if left untouched. By the end of my stay in jail, our yard was 1 enjoy sunsets and the changing seasons, producing masses of flowers and vegetables and I delight in seeing other gardeners find and a harvest of joy for my own soul. By themselves in bringing plants to life. I now I was ready to find Mother Earth again share the beauty which their labors create Knowing that the earth is alive and that we are an for our gardens here are now rich and full in die jungle wasteland of the California expression of its life and its capacity for awareness and Institution for Women. and they bring joy to many. It has been a conscious homecoming. I arrived at CI W toward die end of an era freedom is the most critical awakening we can have. It of liberal thinking and practice. Horticul­ Vonda White teaches art and sings in the choir while serving a sentence in the Califor­ changes the core ofthe way we sow our fields, bake our bead, turists had been here too, but now all that nia State Prison at Frontera. ttnd Spend OUr money. Miriam Theresa MacGillis, OP remained of their ministrations was a few

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May/June 1997, Catholic Women's NETWORK Page 13

Stories in the Night Columns Garden Grace The energy connection Ever-changing mother by Carole Marie Kelly, OSF by Maureen Gilmer Another woman and I arrive at a park, late for our T'ai Chi class. The teacher Spring has come to the High Sierra, the comes over to us and suggests that we do oak trees transformed from stark branches the form by ourselves before joining the The two giant flowers stood to a haze of brilliant lime green. The red others. We are standing in a grassy area. tail hawks fly songs across this ridge, mat­ Mother Earth She directs us to look at two giant petu­ in the sunlight, absorbing its ing in air as the pairs fall together in a nias, white and purple, as we do the T'ai is laboring to strong energies. tangle, then pull apart again right above Chi form. The sunlight seems focused on J.Arnold the tree tops. give birth. the large flowers. replenishing her own chi. Chi is defined as The lowly grasses have begun to shoot the life force energy that fills the universe up, the native iris bloom in translucent, wildness in order to encourage more pro­ and everything in existence. It is made up three-part flowers of the Trinity. The ductivity. Just as we must curb instinctual ofthe balancing forces of yin and yang. dainty shooting stars wave their magenta desires with morality, we control botanical The fact that this dream took place in a spires in the shaded glade, the wolf flowers reproduction in the garden to help her put park, an enclosed area with grass, trees, scatter themselves on dry slopes. forth the kind of offspring we desire. and flowers, also spoke to the dreamer. She Mother Earth is laboring to give birth. We interfere by breeding strains to alter thought of this as a symbol that called her She, the infinite female, is creating new life their characteristics and ensure they come to re-connect with nature and pay more in this time ofthe equinox, when change is true to form and color every time. When it The dreamer was ecstatic about this attention to her environment. all around the natural world. is not the seed but the flower we seek, seed dream! She had asked for a healing dream Nature had always seemed healing to This miracle of rebirth each spring is production is interrupted by the cutting of before going to sleep that night and woke her, but in recent years, she felt she had not one ofthe few constants in an ever-chang­ the spent blossom or harvest of the fruit. up with a feeling of wholeness and con­ taken the time to absorb its calming nour­ ing universe. Ancient peoples were tuned As I till and plant this spring, I, and nectedness with the earth. ishment. If she recognized this need and to these subtle signs because it was the every other gardener, become like mid- She had heard about the power of T'ai allowed herself to spend time in such heal­ moon and sun that ordered plant behavior, wives helping the earth to bear her off­ Chi but had never practiced it, so she was ing places, then, perhaps, she would be as governing the yearly cycle of planting and spring. It is as though she and I meet out especially intrigued by the symbolism. strong and healthy as the giant petunias! harvest, hunting and gathering. there in the dirt in a kind of sacramental The two giant flowers nourished by the She had friends who practiced the Chi­ Above all, spring is a celebration of communion, where we work together hand- earth stood in the sunlight, absorbing its nese arts of T'ai Chi and Chi Kung, so she fertility, when the soil prepares to bear an in-hand with God. strong energies. They were much larger resolved to talk with them about their expe­ abundant crop, just as the female of every It is so rare that we may interact with the than normal, emphasizing their vitality. rience. Because these are heating arts, as vSpecies gives birth as the days warm. powers of nature so thoroughly, and she The fact that there were two similar well as martial arts, she hoped that this It's easy to see just why the earth has will reward us with gifts of food and beauty. petunias added to the significance of the dream message might have given her very always been a female entity, for its seasons There is also something very simple about symbol. It is as if a double symbol cries out specific advice about how to improve her and fertility are so similar to women's. the common backyard garden, not those to be noticed. health. Many see this maternal character as highly maintained in picturebook land­ Their opposite colors, purple and white, She was certainly going to explore the holy, but we must always remember the scapes but just a humble plot of vegetables mightjSJgnify a balancing of the yin and possibility. The gentle body movement words of Augustine concerning the birth of or a window box of flowers. yang, negative and positive energies which involved in these arts seemed within her the pagan sun god on the winter solstice: I believe there is a kind of peace that fill the universe, and a comin£tbgether of ability to try. "Worship not the sun but He who made the comes from working the ground, an act the feminine and masculine qualities in the This dream is a good example of a sun." His wisdom reminds us that it was that we of today share with peoples stretch­ psyche. lp^ healing dream, not only because of the God who made Mother Earth, with her ing back to the dawn of agriculture. In the practice of T'ai Chi there is a great specific ideas about connecting with nature mysteries and quality always secondary to t... L'find it an essential part of both my emphasis placed on the need to connect and practicing T'ai Chi, but especially be­ the Lord's original act of divine creation. spiritual and professional life to leave my earth and heaven energies. The practitio­ cause ofthe encouragement and new sense . office filled with manuscripts and comput­ ner is directed to ground herself, imagin­ There is a separation between the fertil­ of determination which it gave the dreamer. ity of mother Earth in her natural state and ers and blueprints, and step into the gentle ing the chi or energy ofthe earth entering She had awakened from the dream with world ofthe garden in the afternoon. and strengthening her body through her that of the cultivated garden. I wonder if a strong feeling of empowerment. There There I renew my energies by slowing feet, while the heaven chi enters through the natural earthen fertility is like our was a shift deep within her psyche that gave down to experience the mother and in her the crown of her head. instinctive almost animal-like reproduc­ her new hope. tive drive that powers the wild woman in realm, return my heart to God. Thus a connection is made with earth Carole Marie Kelly, OSF, lives the life ofaal l of us. Maureen Gilmer is a writer and landscape and sky so that there is a continuous current Franciscan hermit in the mountains near In the garden we attempt to control this designer. of chi circulating throughout her body and Carmel, CA.

Marianist We graciously welcome you. Here are programs to Mercy Center Renter NOW! Center gently care for your mind, A Place of Discovery. body, and spirit Retreats for Personal Renewal Becoming Whom You Contemplate—June 8-15 May 3 - To Her Alone We Sing An inter-generational retreat for An eight day individually-directed Ignatian retreat to create transfor­ women • $40 per person, includes "kid friendly" lunch and dinner mation by contemplating moments in the life of Jesus. A day long retreat for young women 12-14, mothers, friends, grandmothers, and aunts Art and Contemplation—July 13-18 who wish to celebrate a young woman's rite of passage into womanhood. The wisdom Explore how viewing and creating visual art can reveal the Divine shared this day will be on the topics: I am A Spark ofthe Divine, Natural Health and Mystery around us. Wholeness, Friends & Loves. Biospiritual Focusing—August 1-3

May 4 - Gardening with Children with Edy Cassell, 9-11 am Turn within to consciousness ofthe body to reconnect with $ 10 person or $20 family • Help children become enchanted with the garden. Learn spirituality. Provides both individual and group focusing. educational activities. Spiritual Exercises—Begins September 14 -The Center offers a thirty week Ignatian retreat to create a deeper experience of God May 12-16 - Experience the Collective Power of Love and Energy in daily life. Includes weekly meetings, individual sessions and Medicine - $450 includes vegetarian meals, private room, all classes and retreat days. private sessions, use of healed indoor swimming pool, spa, tennis court Claim your power by combining the ancient healing practices of Reiki, T'ai Chi Chi, Qi Gong, meditation, and classes in vegetarian cooking, reflexology. Ayurvedic health Programs in Spiritual Direction practices, using herbs for health. This retreat supports the medically-challenged on an Group Spiritual Direction—Begins Sept 11 energetic, spiritual and cellular level. A program in dynamics and process of group spiritual direction, help with forming group spiritual clusters in your parish or work May 24 & 25 - Reiki Level 1 and 11 with Mimi Latno, MA, Reiki Master/ place. 415 340-7495. Teacher • IOam-4 pm • $250 includes Certificate; manual, vegetarian lunch, snacks This is a certification program through which you will leam to channel Reiki energy for Spiritual Directors Institute Phase I —Begins Sept 13 yourself, others, plants, animals. Leam the ancient symbols to access and send Reiki in A beginning program for those who are exploring the ministry of distant healings. Receive hands-on healing for two days. spiritual direction and desire professional development in the knowledge of spirituality. Varied presenters. Call for brochure. 415 340-7495. Facilities are available during the week for individuals and outside groups for meetings, workshops or private retreats. Mercy Center (415) 340-7474 22622 Marianist Way, Cupertino, CA 95014 • 408.253.6279 2300 Adeline Drive, Burlingame, CA 94010 Page 14 Catholic Women's NETWORK, May/June 1997

CWN Program Photo Reflection Martha Ann Kirk brings peace program Cloned you are ^•2311^*11?*^ How do women build peace? Listen to by the hands Jewish and Muslim women in Jerusalem. of humans in each other? Respect each other? Martha Ann will show slides from her ' ^__i_H P^^^«_H sterile coats Martha Ann Kirk, CCVI, will present a trip and use drama, music and dance to i'«P^^*- _££k^_l_i_r program Celebrating Biblical and Con­ reflect on the stories of biblical women and lightfilled labs ^mmw&', temporary Women in the Holy Land on responding to God with stories of Palestin­ ^fc** Saturday, July 26 from 9:15 am to 1 pm in ian and Israeli women today. Cloned I am Saratoga, CA. Martha Ann is the author of Celebra­ in_yiifP •'% _&Hx_ made in Martha Ann, professor of Religious tion of Biblical Women's Stories and the God's own image Studies at the University ofthe Incarnate video Daughters Who Image God. M by God's own words. Word in San Antonio led a biblical tour Fee is $10 and includes a salad bar through the Holy Land last year and was lunch. Reservation form is below. main speaker at an event with Christian, You 're just a sheep but I'm a shepherdess. m^F^^m 1 I ••I Photo & verse by Arlene Goetze On Shelf the Readers Calendar June 9-11 in San Francisco Peacemaking: The Power of Nonviolence. We Are Sisters, Prayer and Ritual for demands of pastoral practice, the latter must To the Editor: Conference on activism and contemplation with Women's Spirituality and Empower­ always take priority. This book explores each sacrament, its origins, practice and teaching, The day your March 1995 issue arrived, 1 Nobel peace laureates - Dalai Lama, Rigoberta ment, Linda Hay dock, SNJM, Kathy Menchu. For more information 800.937.8728. and how they connect us to the ethics of Jesus. threw it in my briefcase. I was on my way McFaul ofthe WEAVERS, Intercommu­ Peacemaking, PO Box 32862, Baltimore, MD nity Peace and Justice Center, 150 12th to stay a week with my cousin Julie and her 21282. Ave, #3, Seattle Wash 98122, Therapeutic Touch Inner Workbook, husband. Julie was suffering from a rare Aug. 8-10: CTA in Claremont. CA 206.223.1138, FAX 621.7046 Book $15. Dolores Krieger, Bear * Co, 1997. $14 cancer and her mother and young son First West Coast Call To Action Conference Tape of songs $8. Twenty years ago Krieger began teaching needed time away from the bedside. "Discipleship of Renewal" at Claremont Therapeutic Touch in a nursing school in New This may be the answer to your ritual con­ When I stopped for dinner, I pulled out McKenna College (15 min. south of Los Ange­ York. Due in large parts to her efforts, it is cerns. Whether you are an individual or small your newsletter. Imagine how the hair on les). For details619.487.7055or 773.604.0400. being taught as a serious science to health group, a group up to 30, or a large gathering, you my neck stood up when I saw that the Sept. 28-October 4 professions around, the country and is used in will find complete instructions for discussion special issue was all about assisting others Find God in Nature in the Canadian Rockies. some hospitals. This updated book discusses and ritual to meet many needs. This book deals Marguerite Buchanan, SM,. spiritual director of the humanization of energy, centers of human in the dying process. with themes of harvest and sustenance, inner Mercy Center in Burlingame will lead a pilgrim­ consciousness, reality of the chakras, heating When I first arrived, I thought Julie knowing, seeds of holiness, circles of 1 ife, Mary, age for those attuned to God's presence in energy, TT as a type of intelligence and a social would have much time beyond my week of living simply on the Earth, etc. It has music nature. The Canadian Rockies will draw you to force. It is a workbook with many exercises for service. As it turned out, less than 15 hours God through stillness and solitude. Feel Mother sheets, song lyrics, and reproducible pages for persons interested in learning and developing later, Julie's spirit returned to God. Earth as a mirror ofthe beauty and fruitfulness ritual materials. their own healing powers. ofthe feminine.Daily readings from the mystics. WEAVERS, (Women's Experience and Voice Her husband Doug and I witnessed her Trip is by bus and rail to Banff, Lake Louise, Expressed in Ritual and Story) started in 1992 final earthly moments. She was conscious Jasper, and Vancouver. For more information as a project by Kathy McFaul, a poverty lawyer Liturgical Prayer in Catechumenate to the end and then Doug and I spent a call Marian Monks at 415.591.8463. who became frustrated with the place of women Team Formation, Mary Anne Ravizza, sacred morning praying, singing, etc. until October 5. 11 am - 1 pm in church and ritual. She volunteered at the Sheed and Ward, 1997. $8.95 the relatives returned. A Critical Mass, Women Celebrating Eucha­ International Peace and Justice Center and met Ifyou are involved in the RCIA in your parish, When they arrived and asked, "Have you rist, siteof Old Oakland Cathedral, Marin Luther Linda Haydock, SNJM. Together they devel­ this is a very helpful book for leading prayer called the priest?" I didn't know how to King Jr. Way and San Pablo, Oakland. No fee, oped rituals and offered them at 10 locations in with candidates and other team members. Li- explain to them the anointing we had al­ no registration. Western Washington state. They trained women turgtcaf prayer, in contrast to individual or ready given, the holiest of priestly experi­ Sept. 21: 1 -5 pm at each ofthe sites to lead the rituals. They have private prayer, is ecclesial—prayer which arises Preparatory workshop. TBA expanded each year and their circles of leader­ when a community gathers in worship to the ences we had shared. ship have grown. Creator. This booklet outlines three sessions This year I threw the March issue into This is a marvelous resource for women for liturgical prayer in RCIA formation de­ my suitcase as I left for a steering commit­ wanting to startritual/discussion/faith sharing signed to help candidates learn to express their tee of a Marianist lay community which Links groups in parishes or other environments. The developing new faith and to train team mem­ has been meeting twice a year since the 60s tape contains 17 songs used in the rituals. bers to lead such prayers. from all over the country. To my delight The following groups are free and open to all the issue was all about Mary. So my first act interested women. Ifyou have a listing of a Who Cares, Simple Ways You Can Reach Rites of Justice, Megan McKenna, Orbis of service in my term of office will be to group you want listed, send it in writing to Books, 1997. Out, MarcyHeidish, Ave Maria Press, 1997. order copies for the members. Please send CWN. Ethics and sacraments in a Christian's life me 20 extra copies. Santa Clara County are intimately bound up together. The tie that Sharing Group: 9 -11:30 am. Second Monday Inside each of us is someone who cares. We Keep up the good work. I can hardly wait binds these two together is the person of Jesus may be busy or weary, but inside we can find that of each month at CWN office, 877 Spinosa Dr., to see what next March brings. Christ For persons to take part in the sacra­ we care for one who is in grief or poverty or Sunnyvale. Prayer, discussion and ritual. ments and not live the reality is to call down a despair even though we may not know the words Judy McKloskey Book Discussion Groups judgement on themselves. Author McKenna to use. Caring is an art and one that the author, Eden Prairie, MN :J%jm Two groups meet monthly to discuss books. points out that stories are the basis for our a chaplain to hospitals, homeless shelters, jails Morning group in San Jose: Call Kathy for rituals, ways of worshipping, and making sense and nursing homes, believes each of us can CWN welcomes your letters, telling your time and place, 408/978-6687. ofthe world, especially the ravages of evil and cultivate. Caring has three basis: a focus on stories or commenting on issues of general Evening group in Sunnyvale: Call Gerry at injustice. In liturgy, we tell the story and then feelings, a language of listening, and a ministry interest. 300 words or less. Send to CWN by 408/736-3521. enact it to make it come true in our lives and of presence. Caring begins on that rugged, June 1 for the next issue. Fresno. CA communities. Sacramental liturgy and rituals messy, glorious terrain of one's inner feelings. Lydia's House, monthly meeting for prayer, arc steeped in laws, customs, theological lan­ Caring has it is own language, action, mainte­ Begin Again Retreat friendships, sharing and ritual. Call 209-449- guage, and spiritual symbols deeply embedded nance, specialties, dangers, and rewards, all of May 2-4 1281 in peoples lives. Any of them can be rendered which are explained through experience and Vallombrosa Center, Menlo Park .Lafayette. CA lifeless when those who use them fail to under­ stories in this lovely easy-to-read book. The Wednesday Morning Prayer Circle San Jose Beginning Experience leads a stand die pastoral purposes that root them in author believes we can translate our impulse to Interested women are invited to La Casa, 936 reality. Many laws, now and at the time of care into everyday action. weekend of evaluation & renewal for sepa­ . Dewing, # 1, Lafayette, for sharing, support and Jesus, did not serve the common good. When rated, divorced & widowed men & women. Book reviews are by Arlene Goetze. prayer from 10 am to 12 noon each Wednesday. there is a gap between church law and the Information: 408.265.9494or264.3354. 510/284-5714.

CWN Registration Form Would you like to receive this paper by mail? Please register me for Sat July 26 Celebrations of Biblical Women ($ 10 by July 21) $_ Please send NETWORK for one year by I can bring an item for salad bar lunch. First Class Mail (1-2 day delivery) (Lis i item —olives, tomatoes, sprouts, beets, rolls, etc.) Third Class Mail (2 days to 2 weeks delivery) Reduced rates for low income. Confirmation letter/maps sent July 20. Total enclosed Name Phone Name Phone Address. Address.

City _Zip_ City State Where did you get this paper?. Mail to Catholic Women's Network, 877 Spinosa Dr., Sunnyvale, CA 94087 Mail te Network, 877 Spinosa Drive, Sunnyvale, CA 94087 May/June 1997, Catholic Women's Network Page 15 Morning Session A- 10;15 to 11:45 am Session B continued Sessions are divided among the four spiritualities and are coded as follows: B-9 Seasons & Cycles: Women and Earth (Hoi) Same as C-ll. (Bib) Biblical (Mys) Mystical (East) - Eastern (Hoi) Holistic/ecofeminist The Earth, (as Divine Mother) can teach us about the seasons/ cycles of our lives. Sing, dance and hear stories of ways to ritualize individually or as a community. A-l Sarah and Hagar in Genesis: Overturning the Texts (Bib) Margaret More is a dancer, liturgist and ritualist She taught Using this story— the group will use theatre techniques such as improvisation, liturgical dance at Santa Clara U. and is a storyteller of Celtic writing and drama to create a relationship with the text, rewrite and act it out. ±$1% and Native American stories and a Fairy Godmother. Victoria Rue. M.Div. Ph.D. is a feminist theologian, playwright, director, B-10 Gender. Power, and Authority (Hoi) Sames as C-10. and teacher in spirituality and the arts at two colleges. Consider the images, symbols and stories that shaped our A-2 Challengers or Collaborators: Women. Incest, & Domestic Violence expectations of women and men in relation to power/authority— (Bib) Women suffer incest and domestic abuse. The "cure" involves a challenge of their healthy use and the role of feminism. our theological/biblical tradition. How do women help/hurt their own cause? Kaye Ashe. P.P.. Ph.D. taught history at Rosary College, Marie-Eloise Rosenblatt, RSM. Ph.D. has taught scripture at Catholic Theological and was Prioress of the Sinsinawa Dominicans. Her new book Union, Chicago, and Santa Clara University and has authored several books. The Feminization of the Church? is at press. A-3 For the Love of God: A Look at Devotional Mysticism (Mys) Glimpse into the ecstatic Body-Mind-Emotional-Spiritual states of eastern and west­ B-l 1 Healing Room: Individual sessions of reiki, foot reflexology, seated massage for $5 ern mystics to see how varied human relationships with the divine can be. for 10 minutes. Make appointments during 8-9 am registration. Lisbeth Jones . M.A., PhD cand, has studied many spiritual energetic techniques in Hindu, Buddhist, and Taoist traditions and is a Tantra Yoga Instructor. A-4 Hildegard of Bingen: Feather on the Breath of God (Mys) Afternoon Session C 2;35 - 3:55 pm With Hildegard as guide, explore the stumbling blocks of self-doubt that keep us from trusting our intuitive wisdom: as healers, artists, agents of change. C-l Spirituality of Women in New Testament (Bib) Joan Ohanneson. is a lecturer and author —her latest book just out is on Hildegard Go beyond the language and theology of the New Testament writers to uncover the Scarlet Music, a result often years of study and research. spirituality ofthe women who have inspired us for two centuries. A-5 Eastern Spirituality: A Lay Person's Perspective (East) Joann M. Branson. PhD, see writeup for B-l Look at the basic principals of non-duality, the worldview, various meditation prac­ C-2 Mary — Her Connection to the Goddess (Bib) tices, and the relation to the divine feminine from Buddhist & Hindu views. This session will trace the pre-Christian traditions including goddess traditions that Ina Adams has two masters degrees, a practice in marriage/family counseling and contributed to a sometimes ambiguous, sometimes paradoxical view of Mary today. has studied the feminine aspects of the god in Eastern spiritual traditions. Marilyn Wilson. BVM. see writeup for A-7 A-6 Qi Gong: The Art of Nourishing Life (East) C-3 Women Mystics: Private Lives. Public Lives (Mys) Qi Gong directly cultivates the Chi (energy) to develop an awareness of what's going Direct experience of God changes people. Explore what kind of transformation took on inside of us. This introduces movements to increase the flow of life energy. Donna Shaffer is a T'ai Chi Chih and Seijaku instructor and a Reiki Master and place with western women mystics. Discuss their public vs private accomplishments. teacher. She has studied Qi Gong, Tibetan Tai Chi, multi-energy understanding. Susan Thrift Mahan. Ph.D.. See writeup for B-3. A-7 Ecology and Feminism: What Happens When They Converge? (Hoi) C-4 Julian of Norwich (Mys) This will probe the meaning of Ecofeminism (ecology and feminism), and its impact Meditate on Julian's life & her Showings of Divine Love. She prayed for a deepening on our lives. Includes interconnectedness and sacredness of al life. of understanding of her revelations. How can we experience deepening today? Marilyn Wilson. BVM. MA has a masters of theological studies, does spiritual Julie Ann Wilson is a PhD candidate in counseling psychology, a religious educator direction and leads retreats on scripture, the Divine Feminine, mid-life, etc. and enneagram teacher. She is interviewer at Mercy Center's spiritual direction A-8 Letting Go of the Past: Peace-Release-Love (Same as C-8) program. Explore ways to heal past memories and experiences that lock you in a wounded C-5 Kuan Yin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion (East) past. Learn ways to live powerfully in the present. Explore the feminine aspect ofthe Buddha by learning about Kuan Yin, the Bodhisattva Charmiel Teresi is a grief specialist at Center for Living with Dying. She has of Compassion. Explore her historical roots, share myths and a visual meditation ofher. ministered with issues of death, dying, and grief since 1985. Ina Adams. MFCC See writeup for A-5. A-9 Parable of the Naked Lady: Discerning Giftedness (Same as C-9) C-6 Mandalas: For Healing and Personal Growth (Same as B-6) Through this parable, in drama and meditation, look within to recognize the "more" Sheri Bortz. M.D. See writeup B-6. that is distinctive in each of us — more than an image, mother, wife. C-7 Healing Ourselves. Healing Our World (Hoi) Margaret Marcroft. MA. has a master's degree in applied spirituality, leads Leam simple integrated methods of healing for daily use. Visualization, acupressure, reatreats and does spiritual direction. She is a CWN consultant. movement & massage help connect with your higher self, reduce stress, bring healing. A-10 Women and Hierarchy: Drops of Water Falling on Stone (Hoi) Pat Cane. MA. is founder/director of CAPACITAR, an international women's network Look at the difference between hierarchy and egalitarian models, discuss symbols, of empowerment. She leads bilingual workshops in the US and Latin America. images and words in the systems, and see how to give a "water-like" response. C-8 Letting Go of the Past: Peace-Release-Love (Repeat of A-8) Barbra Telynor. singer, harpist and ordained clergy in the United Church of Charmiel Teresi - See writeup A-8. Christ, teaches women's spirituality at Twin Lakes College of Healing Arts. C-9 Parable of Naked Ladv (Repeat of A-9V A-ll Exploring Faces ofthe Goddess through the Arts (Hoi) Margaret Marcroft. MA - See writeup for A-9 Using music, songs, movement and stories this will celebrate aspects of the goddess C-10 Gender. Power, and Authority - (Repeat of B-10) within us. Also Goddess qualities, planet movements of moon and sun. Kaye Ashe. O.P. PhD. See writeup for B-10. Yolanda Rhodes, singer, storyteller, dancer and practitioner of traditional African C-l 1 Seasons and Cycles: Women and Earth (Same as B-9) religion. Winner of-Philharmonic Solo competition and music fellowship. Margaret More - See writeup for B-9.

Afternoon Session B 1:00 - 2:20 B-l Spirituality of Women in the Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) (Bib) Registration Form This will define the spirituality of marginal women such as Eve, Sarah, Hagar, Rahab, etc. and look at them as models for women today. Please complete both sides Joanne Branson. PhD, is the founder of SEEK - A Scripture Class, Inc., has taught scripture for 16 years locally, and is widely traveled abroad. You can attend one session in the morning and two sessions in B-2 Challengers or Collaborators: Women. Incest, and Domestic Violence the afternoon. However, we ask that you please list three (Repeat of A-2) Marie-Eloise Rosenblatt. RSM. Ph.D. 7 choices (1,2,3) in order of preference for each session. B-3 Mysticism: An Invitation to Us All (Mys) -f^: Mystical experience is both out of the ordinary and profound; This will present the experience of western mystics and relate it to our own spiritual growth. Morning Session A Afternoon Session C Susan Thrift Mahan. Ph.D. earned her PhD in religious studies and teaches at Notre Dame High in Salinas, Santa Clara University and U of San Francisco. Al . Sarah & Hagar in Genesis Cl_ .Women in New Testament B-4 Our Subtle Energy: Healing Ourselves & Connecting to the Divine (Mys) A2 : Challengers or Collaborators C2_ _ Mary - Links to Goddess Explore models of subtle energy in the body and religious traditions that have used (Same as B-2) C3_ .Women Mystics- Public/Prlv. them: meridians, acupressure, chi gong, Christian laying-on-of-hands, chakras, etc. A3_ . Devotional Mysticism C4_ .Julian of Norwich Lisbeth Jones (See writeup in A-3) A4_ . Hildegard - Feather on Breath C5_ . Kuan Yin - Compassion B-5 O Flame of Divine Love - Music of Hildegard of Bingen (Mvs) A5_ . Eastern Spirituality C6_ _ Mandalas (also B-6) Experience 15 of Hildegard's songs on the viola and explore through music and A6_ Qi Gong C7_ _ Heal Ourselves poetry, the spirit of Hildegard. Discover how Hildegard ignites our own creativity. A7_ Ecology and Feminism C8_ . Letting Go - Peace (A-8) Mimie Dye, formerly with the Metropolitan Opera, is a renowned viola soloist who A8_ Letting Go - Peace - (Also C-8) C9_ . Parable of Naked lady (A-9) performs internationally. She has adapted & recorded the music of Hildegard. A9_ Parable of Naked Lady (C-9) CIO _Gender,Power ( also B-10) B-6 Mandalas: For Healing and Personal Growth (East) Same as C-6. A10 _Women and Hierarchy Cll _Seasons and Cycles (B-9) Review the history of mandalas and look at their present use as an avenue of creative All _Goddess through the Arts expression for personal growth. Participants will make a mandala. Sheri Bortz. M.D.. She uses imagery and process-oriented psychotherapy with patients in her medical practice. Her book, Mandala Journey, will be out soon. Afternoon Session B Noon/Session B B-7 Yoga and Spirituality (East) Bl_ .Women in Old Testament Healing room Yoga means union - union of our will with God. Yoga B2_ .Challengers /Collaborators ( A-2) liberates this spirit so we can attain wholeness. Leam B3_ .Mysticism - Invitation to All I am interested in having - postures for breathing, relaxation and freedom! B4_ . Our Subtle Energy Reiki Lolly Font. M.A. is director and a yoga teacher at the B5_ _ Flame of Love - Hildegard's music seated massage California Yoga Center in Palo Alto. She has a masters in B6_ _ Mandalas for healing (Also C-6) foot reflexology education and transpersonal psychology. B7_ _ Yoga and Spirituality for an added small fee. B-8 Everyday Mindfulness for Busy Women (East) B8_ . Mindfulness for Busy Women These will be scheduled during noon Leam to integrate mindfulness and awareness in everyday B9_ .Seasons & Cycles (also C-ll) and Session B. Sign up for an life by drawing on the practices of Buddhist women, Thich BIO _ Gender, Power,Authority (C-10) appointment during the 8-9 am Nhat Hanh and Betsy Rose herself. Bll _ Healing room registration period. Betsy Rose is a singer, songwriter, recording artist and workshop facilitator who focuses on women, children, deep Be sure to complete the other side>»» ecology, and spirituality/social action. Mail to Gathering, CWN, 877 Spinosa Dr., Sunnyvale, CA 94087 (Check or money order. No credit cards.) Page 16 Catholic Women's Network, May/June 1997 Catholic Women's Network invites you to our Fifth Annual Gathering a day of spiritual nourishment & personal growth

Saturday, June 21 8 am to 4:30 pm Bellarmine College Prep in San Jose, CA $40 per person • $50 after June 1 Reduced rates for low income Men and women are welcome!

Taste and see * Spirituality of Biblical women Betsy Rose Mimie Dye * Spirituality of the Mystics * Eastern spiritualities Registration Information * Holistic/ecofeminist spirituality • * Maps and Confirmation of registration will be Taste and see - the opening ceremony sent on June 10. Please enclose a self-addressed under the leadership of Betsy Rose with stamped business size envelope, (not a small •Victoria Rue interpreting biblical drama envelope) • Mimie Dye playing the music of Hildegard on the viola • Plan to pick up your registration packet between • Betsy Rose with songs of mindfulness Yolanda Rhodes Virginia Rue 8 - 8:30 am on June 21 in front of Licardo Hall • Yolanda Rhodes with African-American Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis storytelling, song, and dance for workshops. Most sessions will accommodate 30 women with a few accommodating 50-75. Registration at the door on June 21 will be accepted only if space remains. Discover new insights and delight in each Schedule other's wisdom. You may Lunch: You may bring a brown bag lunch or order a bag • attend three workshops from a choice of 8-9 am Registration/hospitality, lunch ofa sandwich or salad, drink, cookies and fresh fruit. 33 sessions book sale Cold drinks will be available for $.50 for brown baggers. • experience Reiki, foot reflexology, seated 9-10 am Opening ritual ceremony Coffee, juice, muffins and cookies are free. massage ( for a small fee) In the 10:15-11:45 Session A Reduced Rates: Available for all who find the cost too Healing Room during lunch time or 11:45-1 pm Lunch, Healing Room, Books much. Call CWN or just send in what you feel you can during the early afternoon Session B Booksigning by Joan Ohanneson comfortably pay. Ifyou need a full scholarship, please call • select books and ritual items from the for her new book, Scarlet Music excellent and varied selection of 408.245.8663. East West Bookshop in Mt View about Hildegard of Bingen All events are included in the registration fee. Visit and meditate in the 1 - 2:20 Session B 2:35 - 3:55 Session C Personalized reiki, massage, and reflexology sessions • Interior Castle of Teresa of Avila will be available during lunch and Session Bfor a • Cell of Julian of Norwich 4:10-4:30 Closing ceremony v^ small fee. (Cancellation fee of $5 will be withheld from refunds. Refunds must be requested by June 19 in writing.)

Registration Form This is an abreviated description of workshops and presenters. Please complete both sides Complete description is in the March/ April issue.

Parking Information Name • Please carpool if possible. Parking exists in Bellarmine lots and on nearby Write or print clearly, please neighborhood streets. • Handicapped parking will be reserved in the parking lot closest to the auditorium. Street Please indicate on the registration form if you need it so we can reserve enough spaces. Carpooling Info City. State _Zip. Outside Santa Clara County: Ifyou need a ride or want to carpool with someone from your area, call CWN between June 10-15 for names of others from your area. Home phone 408.245.8663.

Enclosed is my registration fee - $40 before June 1 $ $50 after June 1 $ m t Directions to Bellarmine College Prep (Call or send note if aid is requested —pay what you can afford) Corner of Elm and Hedding in San Jose Lunch: Turkey sandwich, drink, fruit, cookies $ 6_ Vegetarian sandwich, drink, fruit, cookies $ 6_ Directions: ( Lunches must be ordered in advance— or bring your own.) From North: Get on #880 going south. Exit at Coleman, right on Hedding, 3 blocks to Elm. The fee is reasonable for me - here is a donation to From South: From 280 get on #800. Exit right on The Alameda, two- fund a scholarship for someone $ blocks, then left on Hedding. Two blocks to Elm.

Total enclosed Please send a "business" size self-addressed stamped envelope for campus maps and confirmation. They will be mailed on June 10. I need handicapped parking. \i CWN needs some help I can work the Registration table from 8-9 am I can work In CWN sales booth 8-9 am .12-1 pm 1-2 I can hostess between 8-9 am I can help decorate the ritual space or prepare classrooms on Friday afternoon evening (June 20) I can bring muffins/bagels for morning coffee (deliver by 8 am) Ifyou are needed, you will be notified in advance. Wc often get more offers than we need. For all your support, we are grateful. Be sure to complete both sides of this form.