Restoring communities of land and people: Faith and ecology integration as symbiosis

How might an ecology-religion symbiosis in land care shift our planet? The 100-acre Catholic-sponsored Marianist Environmental Education Center integrates ecology, social justice and spirituality; welcoming all into hands-on connected learning experiences of habitat restoration. Participants preserve prairie, woods and wetland ecosystems, acting in communion with the land in mutual service.  The mission is dispersed through the seasonal steps from seed collection to planting to native plant sales, citizen surveys and homeowner consults.  Beauty, eco-diversity and the sacred combine in native plant-butterfly earthworks for meditation.  Interfaith congregational networking, seasonal retreats and art exhibits feature holistic engaging of religious traditions and science-based stewardship.