Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ
Donaldson, IN
http://www.poorhandmaids.org/

Contact:
Sister Mary Baird, PHJC
Interpretive Naturalist
9601 Union Road Donaldson, IN 46513
574-936-9936
smarybaird@poorhandmaids.org

The Poor Handmaids are signators to the Earth Charter (2005) and take cues from this document, Catholic social teaching and other documents of value to the community. The President of Ancilla College which has been sponsored by the Poor Handmaids since 1937 has signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment.

As popularity of the Ministry Center of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ continues to increase, concern about its’ impact on the environment increases as well. Water use efficiency and quality is a priority as the sisters have installed grassed waterways, detention ponds, rain barrels and rain gardens to increase water infiltration, reduce runoff and soil erosion. They are considering the use of permeable parking areas to increase stormwater infiltration even further and are working toward the installation of a water tower for their Donaldson complex. A green roof of vegetation and soil is being considered to not only decrease stormwater runoff even further, but to increase roof insulation and heat loss. A state of the art water filtration plant was installed in 2005,

To help minimize energy-related greenhouse gas emissions, the sisters installed a geothermal heating and cooling system in 2008 for the entire Donaldson complex which includes Convent Ancilla Domini, Catherine Kasper Life Center, Ancilla College, Lindenwood Retreat Center, and Earthworks. Incandescent, tungsten-filament light bulbs have been replaced with energy efficient compact fluorescents and less efficient T12 fluorescent lamps are being converted to more efficient T8 fluorescents. "Exit" signs are being converted to LED (light emitting diode).

The sisters consider the concept of "embodied energy" defined as the sum total of the energy necessary for an entire product lifecycle when making product-purchasing decisions. This concept was used to determine, in part, the content of materials to be used when constructing a hermitage of cob and straw bale.

The congregation is considering indoor environmental quality (i.e. acoustical performance, increased ventilation, low-emitting materials, daylight and views, thermal comfort, etc.) in future construction projects.

The Poor Handmaids have a 1000-acre farm known as Ancilla Beef and Grain Farm on which the soil is valued and respected and which yields natural beef. More than 75 acres are Indiana State Classified Forest, land dedicated as native forest land managed sustainably with oversight by the state. About 13 acres are restored wetlands, and about one acre of restored prairie. Earthworks, an environmental learning center to demonstrate and teach through summer camps how all species on Earth are connected, makes bread and provides vegetables for the congregation utilizing composted food waste from the congregation kitchen. The Congregation is in process of erecting two, 4-season greenhouses with root-zone heating.. Workshops and experiences in art, nature, and spirituality are also provided on the land.

The congregation has a full time interpretive naturalist whose task it is to monitor the natural communities and stand in the interface between them and the human community. The congregation’s Ecological Relationship Committee (ERC), with the leadership, oversees the care of the lands inhabited by the Ministry Center. Any entity that wishes to alter the landscape in any way must meet criteria established by the ERC. In 2006 the sisters recognized a new ministry on the grounds called MoonTree which is in process of building a lodge and a studio devoted to art, spirituality, community, and ecology.

The congregation’s Mission Integration person is charged with assuring that the PHJC Mission and Shared Values are integrated into all aspects of the operations of the various ministries. All who participate in these ministries (community members, board members, leaders, co-workers and volunteers) participate in orientation programs to assure education in the PHJC Mission and Values, charism of the foundress, congregational history and philosophy, Catholic Social Teaching and principles of the Earth Charter. Annual Board Leadership retreats gather leaders from all ministries to continue this education and provide opportunities for shared learning and growth. Policies and procedures are grounded in these foundational documents so that structures reflect the charism of the congregation.

The sisters are in process of producing and distributing a Community Benefit Report to the local civic communities served. This report will describe the benefit of their ministries to the local communities and help make the connection between the operation of the various ministries, care of creation and Catholic Social Teaching. The congregation has called attention to the local Yellow River and since 2004 to the Flat Lake Watershed, in which the sisters reside, to involve watershed inhabitants in the care of their watershed. The naturalist coordinate’s the watershed group and, with other landowners, has developed a watershed management plan with the cooperation of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and other stakeholders.

The Poor Handmaids have had a recycling program for several years including cardboard and paper, plastics, styrofoam, glass, and metals. (See their Recycling Policy below). During the installation of the geothermal heating and cooling system in 2008 and since, they have recycled 141.3 tons of metal.

In an effort to reduce transportation-related emissions, the congregation has added eight hybrid vehicles to its fleet and will continue to add such high mileage vehicles as vehicles are replaced. Carpooling is the norm. In 2009 the sisters invested in a teleconferencing capability to substitute for some travel.


For more about the workings of the PHJC Ministry Center – Interpretative Naturalist job description, Criteria checklists, Policy guidelines, Values & beliefs – please CLICK HERE.