Thursday, June 20, the Summer Solstice, marked the beginning of summer in the northern hemisphere. It also marked the beginning of the Winter Solstice in the southern hemisphere. Solstice is a global event that happens at the same moment everywhere on earth. For those of us in the northern hemisphere, it is a reminder that we are being bathed in the energy of the sun, a time of newness, growth, and delight.
Created to celebrate the Summer Solstice in Ireland, June 20, 2024, ‘Solstice, Wonder’ is a meditative eco-poetry film deeply informed by the heritage of myth and meadow. Intended as a gentle invitation to ritualise mid-summer and to connect with the Earth-wonder.
Poem and film by Grace Wells, with a sweet musical score by Enda Gallery.
El jueves 20 de junio, solsticio de verano, marca el comienzo del verano en el hemisferio norte. También marcó el comienzo del solsticio de invierno en el hemisferio sur. El solsticio es un acontecimiento mundial que ocurre en el mismo momento en todos los lugares de la Tierra. Para los que vivimos en el hemisferio norte, es un recordatorio de que nos baña la energía del sol, una época de novedad, crecimiento y deleite.
Para celebrar el solsticio de verano en Irlanda, el 20 de junio de 2024, “Solsticio, maravilla” es una película de eco-poesía meditativa profundamente informada por la herencia del mito y la pradera. Pretende ser una amable invitación a ritualizar la mitad del verano y a conectar con la Tierra-maravilla.
Poema y película de Grace Wells, con una dulce partitura musical de Enda Gallery.
The night was perfect: it was a clear, crisp and “stellar” evening in St. John’s! The atmosphere was perfectly still and just right for star-gazing.
The CBC weatherman told viewers that it was a perfect night to see the stars and dotted his weather map with them.
Members of the St. John’s Centre Royal Astronomical Society set up their telescopes and high-powered binoculars to view the moon and stars and other treasures of our expansive universe. Adults and children gathered in the garden of the Mercy Centre for Ecology and Justice on Mount Scio Road at 6:00 p.m., waiting patiently as the scientists set up their delicate, yet powerful instruments.
Craters and mountains on the moon were quite visible – yet, no one saw the man-in-the moon! Other planets and constellations of stars could easily be seen. Even the space station came into view.
Looking to the stars
Stargazers appreciated the effort of the Astronomical Society to provide this special opportunity.
Deep appreciation to Sister Mary Tee, Coordinator of the Mercy Centre for Ecology and Justice, and her committee for making this possible. We hope to have another opportunity to look to the stars.
If you cut across the diameter of an apple you will see a five- pointed star at its centre. Many of the blossoms that turn into the vegetables and fruits that we eat are also shaped like five pointed stars. To the Mercy Centre for Ecology & Justice, the five pointed star is a symbol that we are all connected in a reciprocal relationship with nature and the universe.
Produce harvested from the MCEJ Garden
The mission of the Mercy Centre for Ecology & Justice is to promote the interconnectedness and interrelatedness of all creation and to live in a spirituality flowing out of the sacredness of all creation.
From its beginnings in 2003, the Mercy Centre quickly identified a need to connect low-income families in the St. John’s area with fresh, healthy locally grown produce. Organizers also saw the opportunity to engage youth in growing food. The result has been a six year community gardening initiative that is still thriving today. Mercy Centre organizers see physical connection with the land as a practical expression of their mission.
“The first purpose was to engage youth in organic gardening so that they could learn the skills of gardening; skills that were traditionally known to their elders but were being lost”, reflects Sister Mary Tee, coordinator of the Mercy Centre for Ecology & Justice. “The second purpose then was to engage youth so that they could experience what it means to be a contributing member of the larger community and help feed those in need. The third purpose was to offer a healthy respect and appreciation for the land so that youth could see themselves as part of all creation and all creation as part of them; and then with such awareness of the mysteries and miracle of life in a tiny seed, a greater wisdom and consciousness could be found.”
Over the years thousands of pounds of fresh food have been donated to food banks and meal programs by the Mercy Centre’s gardeners. This was made possible by the generous support of several farmers in the area who shared their acreage and contributed their expertise. From 2003 – 2009, prior to the Mercy Centre establishing its current home on Mount Scio Road, garden land was donated by farmers Colin Lester, Hector Williams, Robert Walsh, and the Searl Family.
Starting in 2006 the Mercy Centre began partnering with the Association for New Canadians (ANC) to provide access to land to participants in the Association’s language training program, many of whom were new residents to Canada who brought with them a wealth of knowledge on food production. That relationship continues today and ANC participants often visit to tend their plants, harvest fresh food for their families, and participate in events like presentations and workshops on food security and food skills given by the Food Security Network(FSN). In 2012 a new initiative was started called Growing Health, a partnership with Nature NL to connect consumers of mental health services with gardening at the Mercy Centre, based on the belief that working in and with nature does wonders for the mind, body, and soul. Through the project dozens of new visitors have experienced what the Mercy Centre has to offer. A new greenhouse and composting toilet were added in 2012.
The Mercy Centre for Ecology & Justice offers other impactful programs beyond the garden, including public education on the New Universe Story, a three-week nature-based summer camp for children, an annual fair trade Ten Thousand Villages Sale, and a youth choir that addresses social justice issues called Music and Song to Right the Wrongs. To support all of that amazing work, the Mercy Centre for Ecology and Justice formed its first Board of Directors in 2012.
The Season of Advent (3-24 December) has commenced and COP28 is now underway in Dubai. Instead of the traditional Advent wreath, consider creating a Cosmic Advent wreath. The Cosmic wreath is rooted in “deep incarnation.” This invites us into a radically different relationship with the world, a relationship where everything and everyone matters …
The themes of the four weeks are
Week 1: Birth of the Universe
Week 2: Birth of the Solar system
Week 3: Birth of Jesus, the Christ
Week 4: My Birth into the whole Cosmic Body of the Universe
The 5th moment is centered in “All is One”, the moment that Pope Francis calls “the joy of our hope.”
Let us pray: Week One: Birth of the Universe … Come, Sacred Source of All Life …
Come, waken me/us to ONENESS and to recognize your love within all creation.
El tiempo de Adviento (3-24 de diciembre) ha comenzado y la COP28 ya está en marcha en Dubai. En lugar de la tradicional corona de Adviento, considere la posibilidad de crear una corona de Adviento Cósmico. La corona Cósmica tiene sus raíces en la “encarnación profunda”. Esto nos invita a una relación radicalmente diferente con el mundo, una relación en la que todo y todos importan…
Los temas de las cuatro semanas son
Semana 1: Nacimiento del Universo
Semana 2 Nacimiento del sistema solar
Semana 3: Nacimiento de Jesús, el Cristo
Semana 4: Mi Nacimiento en todo el Cuerpo Cósmico del Universo
El 5º momento se centra en “Todo es Uno”, el momento que el Papa Francisco llama “la alegría de nuestra esperanza.”
Oremos: Primera Semana: Nacimiento del Universo … Ven, Sagrada Fuente de Toda Vida …
Ven, despiértame/despiértanos a la UNIDAD y a reconocer tu amor dentro de toda la creación.
The Season of Creation has ended but the need for prayer, reflection and practical action on the environment continues.
In Laudate Deum, released today “to all people of good will”, Pope Francis shares his heartfelt concerns about the care needed for our common home. In the eight years since the publication of Laudato Si’ in 2015, the Pope says, “I have realized that our responses have not been adequate, while the world in which we live is collapsing and may be nearing the breaking point.” He continues, “the impact of climate change will increasingly prejudice the lives and families of many persons. We will feel its effects in the areas of healthcare, sources of employment, access to resources, housing, forced migrations, etc.”
In six chapters and 73 paragraphs the Pope points to the signs and human causes of climate change (ch. 1), stresses nature is a gift, not to be exploited (ch.2), adresses the weaknesses of international politics (ch. 3),describes the various climate conferences held to date (ch. 4) looks ahead to COP28 in November 2023 (ch. 5) and, reminding his readers that the motivations for this commitment flow from the Christian faith, encourages all faith groups to “accompany this pilgrimage of reconciliation with the world that is our home and to help make it more beautiful, because that commitment has to do with our personal dignity and highest values. At the same time, I cannot deny that it is necessary to be honest and recognize that the most effective solutions will not come from individual efforts alone, but above all from major political decisions on the national and international level”. (ch.6)
El Tiempo de la Creación ha terminado, pero la necesidad de oración, reflexión y acción práctica sobre el medio ambiente continúa.
En Laudato Deum, publicado hoy “a todos los hombres de buena voluntad”, el Papa Francisco comparte su sincera preocupación por el cuidado necesario de nuestra casa común. En los ocho años transcurridos desde la publicación de Laudato Si’ en 2015, dice el Papa, “me he dado cuenta de que nuestras respuestas no han sido adecuadas, mientras que el mundo en el que vivimos se derrumba y puede estar cerca del punto de ruptura.” Y continúa: “el impacto del cambio climático perjudicará cada vez más la vida y la familia de muchas personas. Sentiremos sus efectos en los ámbitos de la asistencia sanitaria, las fuentes de empleo, el acceso a los recursos, la vivienda, las migraciones forzosas, etc.”
En seis capítulos y 73 párrafos, el Papa señala los signos y las causas humanas del cambio climático (cap. 1), subraya que la naturaleza es un don que no debe ser explotado (cap. 2), aborda las debilidades de la política internacional (cap. 3), describe las diversas conferencias sobre el clima celebradas hasta la fecha (cap. 4), mira hacia la COP28 de noviembre de 2023 (cap. 5) y, recordando a sus lectores que las motivaciones de este compromiso emanan de la fe cristiana, anima a todos los grupos religiosos a “acompañar esta peregrinación de reconciliación con el mundo que es nuestra casa y ayudar a hacerlo más hermoso”. 5) y, recordando a sus lectores que las motivaciones de este compromiso emanan de la fe cristiana, anima a todos los grupos confesionales a “acompañar esta peregrinación de reconciliación con el mundo que es nuestra casa y contribuir a hacerlo más bello, porque ese compromiso tiene que ver con nuestra dignidad personal y nuestros valores más elevados”. Al mismo tiempo, no puedo negar que es necesario ser honestos y reconocer que las soluciones más eficaces no vendrán sólo de los esfuerzos individuales, sino sobre todo de las grandes decisiones políticas a nivel nacional e internacional”. (cap.6)
On 4 October, the feast day of St Francis and conclusion of the Season of Creation, Pope Francis will release Laudate Deum meaning “Praise God”, an ecology document intended to follow up on his 2015 encyclical, Laudato Si’, On Care for Our Common Home.
Laudate Deum is an apostolic exhortation. As the category suggests, these are papal addresses urging consideration of a particular spiritual matter or activity, in this case the climate crisis. In the 8 years since Laudato Si’was published, climate change has accelerated, evident in record temperatures, Arctic-Antarctic meltdown, extreme droughts, storms, wildfires, loss of life and damage.
The launch of Laudate Deum will be live-streamed from Rome at 3:30pm Newfoundland time on 4 October.
Pope Francis will release a follow-up document on the environment on Oct. 4, providing an update to his 2015 encyclical
“Laudato Si’, On Care for Our Common Home“, a landmark papal letter that offered a rallying cry for global action in the fight against climate change and that was timed to be released ahead of the groundbreaking UN climate change conference in Paris, COP21, focused on reducing carbon emissions.
Francis said the new document aims to help “put an end to the senseless war against our common home” and comes after a summer of record-breaking rising temperatures, wildfires and storms. The Vatican Press says it will address “the most recent extreme weather events and catastrophes affecting people across five continents.”
The October. 4 release date of the new exhortation is the Feast Day of the pope’s namesake, St. Francis of Assisi, the 12th century saint known for his concern for the poor and the environment. It is also the date of the final day of what is known as the “Season of Creation,” a month-long ecumenical initiative aimed at inspiring greater prayer and environmental action among Christians. It will be a lead-up to the next global climate summit (COP 28), which will take place in November in Dubai.
El papa Francisco publicará el 4 de octubre un documento de seguimiento sobre el medio ambiente que actualiza su encíclica de 2015 “Laudato Si’, sobre el cuidado de la casa común”, una carta papal histórica que ofreció un grito de guerra para la acción global en la lucha contra el cambio climático y que se publicó antes de la innovadora conferencia de la ONU sobre el cambio climático en París, la COP21, centrada en la reducción de las emisiones de carbono.
Francisco dijo que el nuevo documento tiene como objetivo ayudar a “poner fin a la guerra sin sentido contra nuestra casa común” y llega después de un verano de temperaturas récord, incendios forestales y tormentas. La prensa vaticana dice que abordará “los más recientes fenómenos meteorológicos extremos y las catástrofes que afectan a las personas en los cinco continentes.”
La fecha de publicación de la nueva exhortación es el 4 de octubre. La fecha de publicación de la nueva exhortación, el 4 de octubre, es el día de la fiesta del homónimo del Papa, San Francisco de Asís, santo del siglo XII conocido por su preocupación por los pobres y el medio ambiente. También es la fecha del último día de lo que se conoce como el “Tiempo de la Creación”, una iniciativa ecuménica de un mes de duración destinada a inspirar una mayor oración y acción medioambiental entre los cristianos. Será la antesala de la próxima cumbre mundial sobre el clima (COP 28), que se celebrará en noviembre en Dubai.
In 
Francis said the new document aims to help “put an end to the senseless war against our common home” and comes after a summer of record-breaking rising temperatures, wildfires and storms. The Vatican Press says it will address “the most recent extreme weather events and catastrophes affecting people across five continents.”