Wheaton Franciscan Land Acknowledgement Statement

A Land Use Circle, made up of 5 Sisters and 2 covenant companions, was convened in September 2022 to begin the process of identifying and evaluating our community’s options for conserving the “green space” and transitioning our land for future generations. Our work continues.  We also developed a Land Acknowledgement Statement which was posted on our website and will be used to open all public and community meetings and gatherings.  In spring 2024 we plan to have a public event to call attention to this Land Acknowledgement Statement.  A Land Acknowledgement Statement is a simple, powerful way of showing respect to indigenous peoples who originally lived on this land, an acknowledgement of the injustice done to them, and a recognition that their descendants continue to be in relationship to Land as a living being.  On August 22, 2023  at a regional gathering, the Sisters and Covenant Companions unanimously approved the following: WHEATON FRANCISCAN

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT STATEMENT:

As a Franciscan community with a spirit of reverence for Earth, we acknowledge the indigenous peoples who lived in relationship with this land for thousands of years until they were forced to leave. We honor and respect the history, culture, and diversity of indigenous peoples as well as their presence now and in future generations. We are inspired to carry on the legacy of land stewardship in the spirit of living deeply in relationship with Earth, so that gratitude and appreciation of indigenous peoples remain alive in us and in all who walk this land.

Butterfly Release Program:

For the last several years, Lisa Flanigan (who works in our treasurer’s office) and Ellen Masuret (OLA Administrator and Sister Services Coordinator) have been rescuing Monarch caterpillars who have hatched on some of the milkweed plants on the motherhouse property.  Many such caterpillars do not survive to become butterflies because they are eaten by birds.  Once rescued, they are put in screened hatching cages, along with milkweed leaves, where they eventually build their chrysalis.  As the butterflies begin to emerge, flowers and water are added to the environment to nourish them prior to their release.  Each day the mature monarchs are released outside to begin their new lives.  This year a total of 160 monarchs were released over the summer and early fall to begin their flight south to Mexico.  Sisters, Covenant Companions, and visitors enjoyed seeing the stages of transformation take place and have celebrated each new butterfly’s release into the sky.

The Season of Creation was a blessed time for our St. Clare Regional Community in the USA. For the opening day on September 1^st, we posted a 10-minute reflection video on our          wheatonfranciscan.org website which could be used throughout the season.  It highlighted our prayer for the season of creation, which was also handed out as a prayer card to our worship community so that it could be prayed at home. We also shared inspirational prayer videos online each week.

Attendees at Sunday Mass had the opportunity to listen to guest speakers reflect on the readings of the day in relationship to the activities of the Ministry Fund Committees and how we are partnering with over 90 organizations to care for creation and care for the poor.  During the closing liturgy of the Season of Creation, S Magdalena did the reflection, sharing with those present some of our collaborations with our own sisters around the world.

On September 8, we were blessed with a concert in the St. Clare Garden by Covenant Companion John Niemet. It was a beautiful day and many people spent their lunch hour enjoying the beauty of the garden and the gentle, inspiring music. What a wonderful way to celebrate the Season.

Kickapoo Red Flint Corn Harvest

This year was the second year that we participated in planting sacred red flint corn for the indigenous Kickapoo Nation.  They again entrusted us with 100 corn seeds which were planted in the spring at the Wheaton Franciscan Motherhouse.  This year Covenant  Companion Paige Samdal harvested 154 ears of corn, a little more than last year.  We had a special liturgy on Sunday, October 22 to thank Mother Earth for this rich harvest.  The corn will be dried and shipped to the Kickapoo people in about a month.

Clothing for Immigrants and Asylum Seekers

We came together to support our immigrant brothers and sisters in Chicago during our “Immigrant Rapid Response Donation Drive”. This donation was to gather warm clothing for newly arrived asylum seekers. Over 20,000 refugees/asylum seekers have arrived from the USA southern border since August. All the shelter beds in the city are full and there are still over 2000 people sleeping on the floors of Chicago police stations, waiting for more appropriate emergency shelter. The open and generous hearts of our Faith Community left us feeling humbled and grateful. Dr. Ed Pratt, the Executive Director of the Illinois Community for Displaced Immigrants (ICDI), expressed his deepest gratitude “for the wonderful donation of clothes,” the support of our Motherhouse staff and volunteers. He was also grateful for the kindness and assistance in preparing the truckload of donations. Because all the items were sorted, folded and the boxes labeled, ICDI was able to distribute the items immediately to those most in need. In addition to a truckload of clothing, we also collected needed toiletries and monetary gifts totaling $2,450. (Sr. M. Beatrice Hernandez FCJM)