Environmental Stewardship

Photo courtesy of Solar by CIR.

As a Franciscan community, we are dedicated to being responsible stewards of the environment. We advocate for responsible public policy and implement “green” initiatives at our convents and ministries, including:

  • Using Materials Wisely: When possible, we repair, reuse, recycle and compost.
  • Preserving the Outdoors: We promote rainwater preservation, maintenance of green spaces and organic gardening.
  • Speaking Out as Investors: In 2021, we worked with Green Century Capital Management and filed a shareholder proposal for a commitment to not engage in mining for titanium on Trail Ridge along the Okefenokee Wildlife Refuge — the world’s largest intact freshwater wetlands. An agreement was reached but the fight continues. Read more.
  • Using Solar Power: Since 2017, the solar power used at Felician properties across the United States is expected to avoid 110 million pounds of CO2 emissions over its 35-year lifetime.
  • Joining with Others: As a congregation, we have committed to developing a Laudato Si’ Action Plan.

Sustainable building owners, the Felician Sisters were awarded the Pennsylvania Solar Lodestar Award in 2021, and again in 2023.
Read about our sustainability work.

Laudato Si’

We actively support Laudato Si’ — one of the three encyclical letters written by Pope Francis — which entreats everyone to join together to protect our planet and the future of humanity.

Pope Francis explores today’s ecological crisis in the light of faith, and shows us that “everything is connected.” (LS 91) As our world faces extreme weather and the loss of precious biodiversity, we all suffer, but the poorest and most vulnerable suffer most.

Yet there is hope. Pope Francis calls us to develop a “loving awareness” of this home we share and to act. (LS 220)

Read our Laudato Si’ Action Plan Commitment Statement

The Felician Sisters of North America, inspired by our Franciscan heritage to be in right relationship with all of creation and impelled by the spirit of our foundress, Blessed Mary Angela, commit to the seven-year journey of the Laudato Si’ Action Platform (LSAP). Mindful of the fragility of Mother Earth and of the suffering of God’s people, especially the poor and marginalized impacted most by the environment, we will:

  • Identify the critical social and environmental needs of our time and their systemic causes.
  • Embrace our call to profound interior conversion as we take bold, tangible steps to renew our relationships with God, one another, and the created world.
  • Educate ourselves about the causes and effects of climate change and do our part to help alleviate these problems.
  • Address our choices and model behaviors that demonstrate our commitment to decrease our carbon footprint, the destruction of our planet and implement changes to better care for our Sister, Mother Earth.
  • Support and hold each other accountable for making changes to care for our Earth.
  • Stand in solidarity with our Felician Associates, employees, and ministries, and assist them in the work of listening to the cry of the poor and the cry of the Earth.
  • Work in partnership with other groups who have committed to the seven-year journey of the Laudato Si’ Action Platform.

Resources

Laudato Si’ Website
Providing updates and action items, including viewing the film, THE LETTER.

Laudato Si’ Action Platform
Supporting churches and individuals in creating concrete plans to protect our common home.

God’s Creation Needs You Video Series
Empowering change with a series featuring Catholic communities nationwide actively engaged in climate advocacy, environmental justice, community building and more.

Fill it Forward
Inspiring the world to reuse.

Blue Community
Helping communities fight privatization of water and to promote the human right to water.

Butterflyway Project
Volunteering wildflower patches to help these vital pollinators.

Watch Trash Talk

Laudato Si’ is the Catholic
response to care for our Earth.

Sr. Mary Jean Sliwinski and Sr. Mary Jacqueline Keefe hosted a live Zoom.

Watch Create Recycled Art

Sisters and friends gather to create art from would-be trash.

Sr. Mary Ann Therese Kelly hosted a workshop for Catholic Sisters Week.


For more information about Felician Sisters’ environmental stewardship, contact:
Sr. Mary Jean Sliwinski
Provincial Sustainability Coordinator
sjeans@feliciansisters.org

Recent Posts

See all recent posts about Environment & Sustainability.

Serving where needed since 1874

Founded in Poland in 1855, the Felician Sisters are a congregation of women religious inspired by the spiritual ideals of their foundress, Blessed Mary Angela Truszkowska, and Saints Francis of Assisi, Clare of Assisi and Felix of Cantalice. Arriving in North America in 1874 following Blessed Mary Angela’s directive “to serve where needed,” they helped to weave the social service system. Today, the Felician Sisters founded, sponsor or support through the presence of our sisters, more than 40 ministries – all continuing to evolve to meet the needs of the people they serve.

Sign up for our e-newsletter

Provincial Offices

Provincial Information

  • Felician Sisters of North America is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization.
  • EIN 27-1282473
Felician Sisters of North America