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written by Jennifer Dix, Presentation Sisters Mission Development Team
In conjunction with other Presentation congregations in North America, the International Presentation Association and the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, the Aberdeen Presentation Sisters are committed to working for social justice throughout the world.
The three main foci for the Aberdeen congregation are: care of creation and earth sustainability, right relationships and peacemaking.
Efforts to care for the earth and its resources have been a part of life for our Sisters for many years. In the last decade, the Aberdeen Presentation Sisters have deepened this commitment by installing solar panels and a wind turbine on our convent grounds in Aberdeen. These additions contribute to 25 percent of our energy needs and will have paid for themselves in 12 short years. We have also replaced our boiler with a more efficient model that saves an average of $22,000 a year.
We are not alone in caring for the earth. We invite our associates, employees, and benefactors to partner with us. Pope Francis declared September 1 as an annual World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation. He stated, “Christians are called to ‘an ecological conversion whereby the effects of their encounter with Jesus Christ become evident in their relationship with the world around them.’” If each of us takes personal responsibility, much of creation can be preserved for future generations. We invite all to consider how we use resources in our daily lives. Making one change, such as starting a recycling program at home or switching to more natural cleaners, coupled with a change from your neighbors can have a positive impact in our world today and tomorrow. We look to combine our efforts with world leaders in making the sustainable development goals a reality. Together may we work to achieve these goals, sustaining the world and all its beauty.