Sisters of St. Joseph promote Plastic Free July

The Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet are joining with people around the world to recognize Plastic Free July, a global movement that helps millions of people be part of the solution to plastic pollution. They have issued an eco-challenge asking people to analyze the amount of single-use plastics in their regular shopping purchases, and then search for and buy alternative purchases without plastic.

They also urge people to contact their UN Permanent Representative to urge them to support the Global Plastic Free Treaty. The congregation’s website notes that, “as plastic pollution increases, researchers are finding plastic in our food chain, our water supply and the air we breathe. Only about 9% of all plastics are recycled, so the only solution to the problem is curbing plastic production in the first place.”
 
Furthermore, they say, developing an enforceable global treaty that sets standards can make a huge impact. This year, 175 countries agreed to initiate a legally binding instrument to address the full life cycle of plastic globally by 2024.
 
Sister Patty Johnson, CSJ, a member of the Congregational Leadership team, said, “This momentum comes at a critical time. Addressing the full life cycle of plastic in meaningful ways will allow us to reduce plastic pollution as a global community. A systemic solution is needed. Working together, the countries of the world can put forth meaningful legislative solutions that will force the needed changes and lead to decreased threats to our health and environmental sustainability of our planet.”

Nun Thanks Bishop

Sister Doreen Glynn, Justice Coordinator for the Sisters of St. Joseph Albany Province, has a letter in today’s Times Union in which she thanks Bishop Howard J. Hubbard for his leadership:

Just hours after learning the sad news that the Vatican has ordered the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, the organization representing 80 percent of U.S. Catholic nuns, to reform itself and place itself under the orders of an archbishop and two bishops, I read about our own beloved Bishop Howard J. Hubbard using his time and energy to speak on behalf of the poor.

Thank you, Bishop Hubbard, for giving me hope. Thank you, Times Union, for your coverage of our bishop addressing a panel of Senate Democrats about the gap between the rich and the poor in the state and nation ("Hubbard: Pay gap threatens social justice," April 19). Along with other faith leaders, Bishop Hubbard was advocating for raising the minimum wage.

The entire letter is available here.

Retreat opportunity

The Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet are presenting a weekend of Inspiration and Enrichment Saturday and Sunday, April 28 and 29, 2012 at the Carondelet Hospitality Center, 385 Watervliet-Shaker Road, Latham.

Saturday’s program is 8:30 a.m – 3 p.m. The topic is Experiencing God with Sisters Katie Eiffe, CSJ, Linda Neil CSJ, Liz Cruger, CSJ, and Charla Whimple, CSJ. Sunday’s program is from 10:00 a.m. – 3:15 p.m. Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream will be presented by Sister Kathleen Pritty, RSM. We will explore ways to be environmentally sustainable, socially just and spiritually uplifting. The fee for each program is $20 with lunch included.

Registration deadline is April 15 to Sister Francis Anne Gilchrist, CSJ, St. Joseph’s Provincial House, 385 Watervliet-Shaker Road, Latham, NY 12110. Please make checks payable to St. Joseph’s Provincial House.

More information is available here.