As we carry the reflections from the Season of Creation into November, the Sisters of Notre Dame in Patna, India, reflect on action, hope, and spiritual connection to the Earth. Guided by Laudato Si’ and inspired by the Season of Creation theme, “To Hope and Act with Creation,” their efforts celebrated creation in ways that touch the soul and stir a deep commitment to care for our common home.
“The Season of Creation is a joyous moment for us,” shares Sister Jyotisha Kannamkal, “to express our appreciation, respect, and care for God’s creation.”
Creating Green Spaces
One of the most impactful projects this season was planting thousands of saplings—a promise for future generations and a powerful response to the “cry of the Earth.” Sister Jyotisha reflects, “We are grateful to God for the thousands of saplings we have planted, the clean environment we have created, and the air and water pollution we are reducing.”
Students smile proudly during the campaign.
Through the Go Green and Clean Campaign, schools and communities in Patna created green spaces free from single-use plastics, instilling the values of environmental stewardship in young minds.
“This campaign nurtures everyone—sisters, students, and community members—to care for the earth and sustain the resources and beauty of God’s creation,” she says.
From Waste to Wealth
Through their Waste to Wealth Programme, the Sisters turned ordinary waste into resources that nourish and sustain. “Every community makes kitchen waste into organic manure for gardens, and outgrown shoes and clothes find new life with children in need,” Sister Jyotisha explains.
Planting the tree saplings serves as a formative moment of ecological education for various students.
For her, this program is about more than recycling; it’s about changing perspectives. “It brings a paradigm shift of values,” she says, “teaching everyone to care deeply for creation, to cherish resources, and to act with compassion.”
Finding God in Nature
The Season of Creation was also marked by a moving Interschool Outdoor Prayer Service, where students gathered under the trees to connect with the Creator through creation itself. Sister Jyotisha describes the moment: “Some of the students expressed their joy by singing the goodness of God, the Creator, and asked for forgiveness for polluting the Earth.”
The sisters deepen their spirituality by reflecting on God’s creation.
In another moment of grace, Bird Feeding Day saw students hanging coconut shells filled with grains around campus, fostering compassion for all creatures. Many students committed to continue feeding birds at home, inspired by the experience.
“They said that God is so close to us when we are in nature,” Sister Jyotisha recalls, underscoring the spiritual power of these encounters.
A Lasting Vision for Creation
The Sisters’ commitment to creation extends beyond a single season; it is part of a plan inspired by Laudato Si’. With initiatives like solarized roofs and kitchen gardens, the sisters are creating lasting, impactful change.
“This journey is not just about reducing costs,” Sister Jyotisha notes. “It’s about responding to the cry of the Earth and living our faith in action.”
Reflecting on this Season of Creation, Sister Jyotisha is filled with gratitude for the community’s unity and dedication: “We are grateful to God for the people whose hearts and minds have opened to care for creation.”
Through their faith and actions, the Sisters of Notre Dame offer an inspiring example of integral ecology, inviting us all to embrace hope and act with love for the Earth, today and for generations to come.
What is your next step?
- For those unsure of where to begin, take a first step. Enroll in the Laudato Si’ Action Platform to learn about suggested actions and build a plan.
- For those who have already enrolled but need to continue their journey, log into the platform and upload a plan based on suggested actions for themselves and their community.
- Finally, for those in the middle of their journey, take the time to reflect and celebrate their recent steps toward integral ecology.