With the theme, Care for Our Common Home, one of the four Universal Apostolic Preferences (UAP) of The Society of Jesus (https://www.jesuits.org), the Bellarmine community took time on March 23 to hold its annual Justice Summit, an examination of the issue of climate change and environmental sustainability as a justice issue.
The day began with an assembly on the Leo J. and Mary G. Lucas Quad with words of welcome and setting the context for the Summit delivered by Patrick Adams, Justice Summit coordinator, faculty member, and Bellarmine’s Green Initiatives Coordinator; a land acknowledgment read by Tony Ferrari, Campus Ministry staff member; and a prayer by Missy Scott-Florez, director of Campus Ministry. The song, Beautiful Things, was sung by the Bells Choir, directed by Gina Adams, which nicely set the tone for the day.
Chris Meyercord ’88, Bellarmine president, introduced morning keynote speaker Michael Downs, former Bellarmine faculty member who is now the director of Justice and Kinship at Bishop O’Dowd High School in Oakland. Mr. Downs was joined by two Bishop O’Dowd students, Frances and Namixtulu, who are members of their school’s ecological leadership team and who shared their respective stories on why they are involved in efforts to make a positive difference environmentally.
Mr. Downs mentioned that his passion and his work are at the intersection of ecology, spirituality, and justice. He asked the community to close their eyes and visualize “your particular place … where you feel the caress of God.” He went on to say that those places are at risk due to climate change, and that “when we restore the land, we restore those places, we restore ourselves.” Mr. Downs encouraged students to consider three things throughout the day: where is my place, why should I care, and how can I show that I care? He also conveyed that climate destruction disproportionately impacts those on the margins in our society.
Throughout the day, students attended breakout sessions covering a variety of topics involving environmental sustainability and climate change.
Kristina Luscher, Bellarmine principal, introduced the closing presenter of the Justice Summit, Rhonda Berry, CEO and founder of Our City Forest (https://www.ourcityforest.org). Ms. Berry expressed her gratitude to Bellarmine students for the thousands of hours of volunteer service they have provided to Our City Forest over the years, and she referred to Bells as “dependable, reliable, and enthusiastic” volunteers. She also shared that her passion for the environment goes back to the age of 10, and that during her time in high school and at U.C. Berkeley she became more interested in racial justice and the environment.
An appropriate conclusion to the day was a tree planting ceremony near the Bellarmine flagpole and a blessing by Fr. Mario Prietto, S.J., superior of the Bellarmine Jesuit community. Fr. Prietto shared the prayer, Canticle of the Creatures, by St. Francis of Assisi.