The Congregation of St. Joseph is a group of Sisters and Associates committed to oneness with all Creation, and thus they research, plan, educate, network, and evaluate ways “to take steps now to strengthen, heal and renew the face of Earth”.*

Mission

In 1650, the Sisters of St. Joseph were founded for the purpose of fostering unity of people with each other and with God. Their current understanding of this mission is to foster unity of people with each other, with God, and with all Creation. They practice this by looking at communal and individual life styles with the goal to live more sustainably through a combination of conservation, eco-friendly economics, eco-spirituality, healthy living, and eco-justice.

Educational Groups

Internal education programs are offered for staff and Congregation of St. Joseph community members. Elective courses on sustainability are offered at St. Joseph Academy. Routinely updated environmental material is available in their library and on their website.

The Congregation of St. Joseph sponsors River’s Edge, a conference and learning center that offers programs open to the public. These offerings promote an integrated understanding of sustainability and sustainable living.

Green Building

In order to reduce energy consumption, the Congregation of St. Joseph is retrofitting their 100-year-old former Motherhouse based on a recent energy audit.

• Motion sensors and timers are used for lighting in appropriate places.
• A wind monitoring tower is currently assessing winds on the grounds to see if it is feasible, with ample fundraising, to build a wind turbine to offset use of coal-produced energy.
• They are consulting with experts on how to build a solar-thermal array to heat an indoor pool.
• They have replaced light bulbs with CFLs (compact fluorescent light bulbs) and participated initiated in other common energy saving projects within the building.

Transportation

• They have modified the number and use of cars in their fleet.
• They reduced the number of cars in the fleet through changes in driving habits and sharing.
• They bought 9 nine Honda Civics that run on compressed natural gas, and installed a natural gas refueling station.
• As cars need replacing, hybrid cars are purchased. Hybrids now numberThey currently have 14 hybrid cars in the fleet.
• Carpooling, car sharing and alternate routes are all encouraged.
• Employees are also encouraged to consider their energy consumption from travel.
• Staff members are permitted to work two days a week from home if their work allows.
• Video conference equipment is available, lessening the need for travel.
• The facility is located on major bus lines and bike racks are available to use.
• Bicycles and helmets are available for residents and guests to use.

Waste Reduction

Their motto is ‘Recycle Everything’

• There are recycling programs for paper, glass, metal, plastic, cardboard, phone books, aluminum cans, printer cartridges, computer equipment, packaging materials, batteries, compact fluorescent light bulbs, cell phones, eyeglasses, partially used medications, religious items, books, and tapes.
• Inventure Place recycles items that are normally non-recyclable.
• Due to recycling program they have reduced the congregation’s waste in half; waste is now only picked up once a week as opposed to twice a week.
• There is some composting, but they are looking to expand this effort.
• When they are unable to use reusable products for large events, recyclable or biodegradable disposable products are used.

Grounds

The Congregation of St. Joseph is situated on 41 acres on the edge of the Cleveland Metroparks.

• No chemicals (pesticides or fertilizers) are used on the grounds.
• Ornamental lawn is being reduced to save energy and decrease air pollution.
• The wild space is certified as a backyard habitat with foxes, deer, native birds and groundhogs. Neighbors walk the grounds with companion animals.
• A community garden is located on the grounds.
• Trails are made of permeable material and benches from recycled plastic.
• A water conservation project is currently studying water runoff and erosion on grounds to reduce this damage and conserve water.

Purchasing

Their purchasing practices are based on the principle of “eco-justice”.

• The congregation does not purchase aerosols, bottled water, Styrofoam, or products tested on animals.
• They only use non-toxic and non-polluting indoor cleaning products.
• The congregation tries to buy fair-trade and locally-grown food products as much as possible, and they purchase recycled products when available.

Involvement in Larger Initiatives

Green Energy Ohio assisted with the building of the wind monitoring tower. The congregation has also worked with and been recognized by Earth Day Coalition, Entrepreneurs for Sustainability, and Crown Point Ecology Center.

Green Committees

The Congregation’s Environmental Committee and Renewable Energy Committee consist of 20 voluntary members concerned with thecommitted to improving the environment. They represent both the Congregation of St. Joseph and the larger community.

• These volunteers formulate goals and policies, plan educational programs, research topics of interest and initiate practices and procedures.
• They consult with experts on different energy plans. For example, they are currently consulting with Bill Doty of Doty and Miller Architects to build a solar-thermal array to heat an indoor pool.

Contact: Sr. Mary Schrader, CSJ, environmental facilitator

*from: Generous Promises formulated in 2007 by the Congregation of St. Joseph as part of a 6-year directional statement.