Care of all creation
As part of our mission, we are attuned to how all of creation lives and moves and has its being in God.
We commit to conserving resources and living in sustainable ways, especially when caring for our 80 acres in Baden. Our Ecology ministry is a tangible expression of the Sisters’ reverence for Earth by encouraging an understanding and awareness of God and nature.
In 2019, we celebrated our 150th year in Pennsylvania and created this video to highlight the ways our Sisters have stewarded creation since arriving in Baden.
As part of Ecology ministry, we coordinate
Chickens for Change
Hens are part of the ecosystem on the Motherhouse ground and provide fresh produce for our Sisters and guests in our Dining Room. Between 2014-2020, we donated 320 dozen eggs, a source of high-quality protein, to local food banks and soup kitchens.
Bees for Beauty
In the tradition of the working farm and apiary that our Sisters operated on the grounds in the early 1900s, beehives were added to the Motherhouse grounds in 2005. The honey is used in the dining room and sold in our online gift shop. The remaining beeswax is used to make all-natural products, such as moisturizing cream, soap and lip balm that are also available in the gift shop. Watch Sister Lyn catch a swarm of honeybees.
Gardens for Good
Two 2,500-square-foot gardens, known as Miriam’s and Elizabeth’s Gardens, were created on the Motherhouse grounds and opened to the public in an effort to address food security issues in Beaver County. Between 2012-2020, our gardens donated 14,319 pounds of fresh produce to local food banks and soup kitchens.
Green Teens, a component of the community gardens, trains youth in sustainable gardening skills and encourages teens to develop a relationship with Earth and one another in community while addressing a major social need – hunger.
Volunteer Work Days
Volunteers help us continue our community gardens, chickens and apiary operations, which supply produce, eggs and honey to food banks to help reduce food insecurity among our neighbors. We welcome individuals, families and groups from local schools, parishes and organizations to lend a hand. View the 2023 work dates and learn more about getting involved.
Other Ecology Projects
- Faith.Field.Feast. farm-to-table dinner
- Baden Earth Day
- Sr. St. Mark Garden Fund
- Tree Trails
- Labyrinth
- Sustainability Presentations
- Nature retreats