Join us this Sunday for a service featuring a presentation by Beth Piggush on the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration’s involvement in land justice and her own journey and relationship to this subject. Part of Beth’s her ministry is caring for the 200 acres of land on St Joseph Ridge. Deeper than that, though, is supporting the journey of the sisters as they work on truth and healing as it relates to wrongs of the past towards indigenous communities. This work introduced Beth to a new term: “land justice”. She thought she understood the concept but discovered there was much more to be learned. Beth’s journey started by reflecting on the farmstead she grew up on in Southern MN; a place she loved and cared for with her family. Over time, she found herself drawn to the land, for reasons both personal and professional, ultimately bringing her to FSPA five years ago. She still sees her connection to the land as a strong one but with a different lens. Beth is learning about land justice with groups like Land Justice Futures (formerly Nuns and Nones land justice project). And she is putting what she has learned into practice by building relationships with Ho Chunk youth services in La Crosse. She is thoroughly involved in learning and unlearning what land justice can mean and is looking forward to sharing her journey with all of us this Sunday!
Beth Piggush is the Integral Ecology Director for the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration. Her position is always evolving, which includes serving as a resource person and promoting environmental and sustainability best practices that support care for all of God’s creation. Two major parts of Beth’s work are the Global Laudato Si Action Platform and FSPA land on St. Joseph Ridge which includes 200 acres of woodlands, prairies and crops.
Prior to starting her work with FSPA, Beth was the school garden coordinator at Cathedral Elementary School, a volunteer grant writer for teachers at Aquinas Catholic Schools and served as an adjunct instructor within Viterbo University’s Sustainability Praxis. Beth thrives on building team relationships and networking to carry the message of sustainability and raising our quality of life. Outside of her time with FSPA, Beth and her husband Justin are running after their three daughters, avoiding rain and black flies with family outdoor adventures, practicing permaculture at her La Crosse home, cooking and preserving anything she can grow or forage and reading a newspaper whenever possible.
For information about attending in person, links to Zoom login info, Sunday’s Order of Service, Online Giving and more click here –> linktr.ee/uulacrosse
Topics: Green Sanctuary