Hi from Chicago, Illinois and greetings to all back home
Since I last wrote we have travelled from St John’s Abbey, Collegeville, Minnesota via car to Chicago.
St John’s Abbey (St John’s University) and the partner St Benedict’s in St Joseph’s about 6 miles away, are working in many ways in the stewardship issues which effect them in their pledge for “stability” within the rule of St Benedict. This is a spirituality within the Benedictine tradition which is being discovered, or rediscovered (depending who you talk to).
Today has been a great “green” day with great meetings with two organisations – Faith and Place – http://www.faithinplace.org/ a partner organisation with Interfaith Power and Light – http://interfaithpowerandlight.org/. Thanks to Clare for her time today. Thanks also to John from the Midwest Institute for Environmental Spirituality – http://midensp.org/ for his time and resources. Both these organisations have been pathfinders in working with parish communities in raising the political and theological profile of sustainability/stewardship/environmental issues within the Christian Church and other faiths, particularly Islam and Judaism.
Tomorrow Julia and I plan to explore some of Chicago. Of particular interest is the Chicago centre for green technology, http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/doe/provdrs/ccgt.html a place which exhibits examples of numerous sustainable technologies.
Also of interest for art lovers is the Art Institute of Chicago http://www.artic.edu/ and the Museum of Contemporary Art , Chicago http://www.mcachicago.org/
Please continue to pray for those on the streets in the U.S., especially in the cold, rain and snow of Chicago. Love from us both. xo
Vegan Priest, Christopher Golding 