Mariandale Hosts Interfaith Vigil for Climate Justice

From the Dominican Sisters of Hope

OSSINING, NY, October 1 – Sometimes, if you want to raise awareness about Puerto Rico (and other areas affected by natural disasters), you just have to march through the streets.

Yesterday, the Dominican Sisters of Hope, along with the local community, did just that.

On Sunday, October 1st, the sisters and the public gathered in solidarity with Mother Earth and all her inhabitants to pray for Earth and all who suffer throughout the world from climate disasters.

The Interfaith Vigil for Climate Justice was held from 3:00 – 5:00 pm at the Mariandale Center in Ossining.

Attendees gathered for reflections, poems, songs, and sharing about Earth.

There was a special focus on Puerto Rico, Texas, Mexico, the Caribbean, and all communities that have suffered as a result of natural disasters including: Island nations that are sinking, coral reefs disappearing and fires and floods denuding the land of trees and crops. There were also a number of prayers for our world leaders, that they might come to see the truth of climate changetoday.

When asked to share with the group, one participant shared that he came because he believes that “the power of the people can rise above the work of fools.”

Another participant shared that he came simply because he’s “angry.”

Yet, some came for more ecumenical reasons. Briarcliff Manor Resident Gail Gazes said that she came because she believes that gathering intentionally and in solidarity creates “a laser beam of energy” and beams healing and unity into our world.

“It’s not just political,” she shared. “The globe is a sphere: there’s no beginning and ending. We’re all neighbors.”

The vigil concluded with a brief march down North Highland Avenue. As they walked, participants held signs that read “Turn off fossil fuels” and “Be water protectors.”

For Dominican Sister of Hope Bette Ann Jaster, OP, who co-organized the event, the afternoon was about love.

"With LOVE as our source and an awareness of the ways we have failed our planet and each other, we seek the courage to ask the right questions and the knowledge to create the change that benefits all creation," she said.

“As people of faith and of goodwill, we feel that we are called to pay attention to this season and to offer our prayers and action for migrants and refugees everywhere.”

The vigil comes at the close of the Season of Creation, which runs yearly between September 1 and October 4. During this time, 2.2 billion Christians are invited to pray and care for creation. (September 1 was proclaimed as a day of prayer for creation by Ecumenical Patriarch Dimitrios I for the Orthodox in 1989, and was embraced by the other major Christian European churches in 2001 and by Pope Francis for the Roman Catholic Church in 2015.) However, this Vigil was intentionally interfaith.

PHOTOS/ contributed

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