Biannual Sisters of Earth Conference
We gather, network with one another, and receive inspiration from kindred spirit women focused on "Sharing the Wisdom, Shaping the Dream."
Since 1994, conferences have been hosted every second year.
Read about our last in-person conference in 2018.
Photos from the 2018 Conference
Read about the transition in 2020 to online events: Blogspot for the 2020 online series.
Vimeo recordings of our 2022 Conference on request. Email Maureen: mawild@telus.net
Our Sisters of Earth Conference, Aug 22-25, 2024:
Read more about our Conference!
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HISTORY OF SISTERS OF EARTH CONFERENCE GATHERINGS
2022 Shamanic Journeying into Earth's Wisdom
“In moments of confusion such as at present,
we are not left simply with our own rational contrivances.
We are supported by the ultimate powers of the Universe as they make themselves present to us
through the spontaneities within our own beings.
It is the role of the shamanic personality to bear witness to the unseen and work within the
community of life to help humanity transition into a new possibility.”
Thomas Berry
2020 Gesturing Toward Decolonial Futures
Originally scheduled at Pallottine Renewal Center near St. Louis, MO
Theme: Cosmology of Belonging
This conference was cancelled as an in-person event ,due to the coronavirus pandemic, but transitioned to monthly online gatherings titled "Sisters of Earth Emerging - how do we embody the Dream of the Earth in this time of crises?"
Blogspot for this monthly series.
2018 Mount St. Joseph University, Cincinnati, OH - July 12-15
THEME: Sharing the Wisdom, Shaping the Dream: Creating the Future We Want
This theme is inspired from Joanna Macy's concept of Sacred Activism and Active Hope.
2018 Conference Report:
Read about this Conference!
Photos from the Conference!
2016 Presentation Center, Los Gatos, CA
THEME: Zest for Life – Partnering with Our Sacred Earth Community
SPECIAL GUEST PRESENTERS:
Beata Tsosie-Peña, Santa Clara Pueblo, Española, NM
Melina Laboucan-Massimo, Lubicon Cree, Little Buffalo, Alberta, CAN
Birgit Weiler, MMS, representative for Awajún & Wampis, Amazon, Peru
Ann Marie Sayers, Mutsun Ohlone
WORKSHOPS:
Molly Arthur - Reclaiming our maternal lines with Mother Earth, our Ancestors and Future Generations
Patricia Bombard - Sustainability is a Personal Choice: Can we evolve more people to make it?
Suzanne Deliee and Dorothy Calvani - The Rooted Uprooted: Unique Status of Urban Migrant Families in East Harlem
Marie Kopin - Fungi's Partnership with Plants and other forms of Life
Pauline LeBel - Zestify with Music and Storytelling
Toni Nash - Influencing the Shift
Lucy Slinger - The Praxis of Ecojustice connected to Social Justice
Mary Southard - Art as a Way to Living with Zest and Intimacy with Earth
Margaret Swedish - The Earth Cries Out for Justice - the Necessary Links between Environmental Justice and Ecological Healing
Carolyn Toben - Recovering a Sense of the Sacred
Laura Weber - Updating our Global Status - We are ALL in a Relationship!
Maureen Wild - Contemplative Activism: Witnessing the Journey of the Athabasca River from Glacier to Tar Sands and Home of Cree-Chipewyan Peoples
Caroljean (Cj) Willie – Ecospirituality
SATURDAY EVENING OPTIONS:
Zestify with Music & Storytelling, Pauline Le Bel
Film: This Changes Everything by Avi Lewis & Naomi Klein
Film: Disobedience, directed by Kelly Nyks
2014 The University of Saint Mary, Leavenworth, KS
THEME: The New Emerging Humanity: Healing into Wholeness, 20th Anniversary
PRESENTERS:
Mary A. Ashley, “Kinshipping:” Extending God’s Love to All Creatures
Bernadette Bostwick, SGM, Ground Operations, Battlefields to Farmfields
Karen Cassidy, The Cosmology of St. Hildegard of Bingen
Loretta Craig and Margaret Del Debbio, Emergence, Resistance, and Bridges
Maureen McCormack, SL, PhD, Evolutionary Life Transformation
Jennifer Morgan, The Deep Time Journey Network
Toni Nash, CSJ, Aligning with the Order of the Universe
Margaret O’Rourke, CSJ, Paleolithic Ritual/Ecstatic Trance Ritual
Pat Siemen, OP and Elise Garcia, OP, Nature: Rights or Resources?
Caroljean Willie, SC, PhD, What Does Faith have to do with Sustainability
Kathy Wright, SL, Making the Connection: United We Stand, Fractured We Fall
SATURDAY EVENING PERFORMANCE: Sara Thomsen
2012 White Violet Center, St. Mary-of-the-Woods, IN
THEME: Sharing the Wisdom, Shaping the Dream: Deep Transition
PRESENTERS:
Dr. Nettie Wiebe, Helena Norberg-Hodge and Dr. Carolyn Baker
MUSIC: Joyce Rouse
2010 Passionist Retreat Center, Riverdale , New York
THEME: Sharing the Wisdom, Shaping the Dream: The Wisdom of Women, The Wisdom of the Indigenous
PRESENTERS: Vandana Shiva and Mira Shiva
WORKSHOPS/OTHER:
Deb Soule: The Wisdom of Herbs
CJ Willie, SC and Mary Elizabeth Clarke, SSJ - Poetry
Michelle Mahan - Mindfulness
Shelley Depaul - Drumming
Janell Wysock - Weaving
Cathy Coyne, SSJ - Massage
Gail Worcelo, SGM - Yoga Dance
Pat Siemen, OP - World People's Conference- Cochabamba, Bolivia
FRIDAY EVENING PERFORMANCE: Emma's Revolution
SATURDAY EVENING: SOE Sharing Talents
2008 Presentation Center, Los Gatos, CA
THEME: Sharing the Wisdom, Shaping the Dream: Pax Gaia
PRESENTER: Mary Evelyn Tucker
PANELISTS:
Sarah Taylor, Mary Southard, CSJ, Maureen Wild, SC
AFTERNOON PRESENTERS: Paula Gonzalez, SC, Toni Nash, CSJ
SACRED WEB SINGERS
SATURDAY EVENING ENTERTAINERS: SOE Members:
Joyce Rouse, Jan Novotka, Kathy Sherman CSJ
2006 The College of St. Catherine, St. Paul, MN
THEME: Sharing the Wisdom, Shaping the Dream of the Waters, Woods, Prairies, and Peoples of the Northland.
APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY PROCESS and Open Space discussions
PRESENTER: Winona LaDuke: “Recovering the Sacred”
RESPONDERS TO PRESENTER:
Pat Siemen, OP, Rosita Aranita, CSJ, Sarah Taylor
LOCAL PANELISTS:
Chris Heeter – Wilderness Tour Guide and Corporate Facilitator
Karen Joy Clark – Minnesota State Rep and Research, Renewal, Retreat, Activist Center Activism.
Marilyn Larson – Labyrinth Artist, Consultant and Presenter
Sally Auger – Indigenous Seed Propagation and Cultural Perspectives
Jill Underdahl, CSJ, and Jennifer Tacheny – Eco- Renewal Conference for 10th Graders thru College.
Mary Tacheny, SSND – The Urban/Rural Disconnect.
2004 Mt. Sequoyah Methodist Retreat Center, Fayetteville, AR
THEME: Sharing the Wisdom, Shaping the Dream of the Beautiful Wild Forces Within
PRESENTERS:
Babs McDonald, USDA Forest Service, "Exploring the Spirituality of Committed Environmentalists"
PANELISTS:
Kay and Annette Fernholz , SSND, "Organizing Community around Organic Farming"
Robbie Pentecost, OSF, "At Home in the Web of Life: Experiences of Appalachia"
Gabriel Mary Hoare, SL, "GMOs and Bio-devastation"
Cathy Mueller, SL, and Bette Ann Jaster, OP "Linking People on the Margins with Earth."
LOCAL WITNESSES:
Maria Gunnoe, Patty Sebok, West Virginia, “Mountain Top Removal in our Backyards”
Barbara Harmony, Eureka Springs, “Water: Local and International Issues”
Julia _________, Connecting Organic Growers with Disadvantaged Consumers
Melissa Terry, Sierra Club of Fayetteville
SATURDAY EVENING PERFORMANCE:
Renda Keith from “In Praise of Mountain Women” on her trip to Bhutan for the International Year of Mountain Women
EarthMama, Joyce Rouse
2002 Mont Marie, Holyoke, MA
THEME: Sharing the Wisdom, Shaping the Dream: Healing as a Planetary Agenda
PRESENTERS:
Charlene Spretnak, "Recovering the Maternal Matrix"
Jane Blewett, “The Earth Charter”
PANELISTS:
Paula Cathcart, IHM, Greening their Community Center
Marion Honors, CSJ, Art and the New Cosmology
Maureen McCormack, SL, "The Natural Step"/Economics
Eleanor Rae: Global Movements
RITUALS:
Roberta Mulcahy, SSJ and Gail Worcelo, CP Based on the Earth Charter
SATURDAY EVENING PERFORMANCE: Deborah Lubar One Woman Performance of "Eve's Perspective.”
2000 La Casa de Maria, Santa Barbara, CA
THEME: Sharing the Wisdom, Shaping the Dream: An Emerging Earth Spirituality
PRESENTERS:
Stephanie Kaza, author, "Clear-Mind Practice and the Great Work” and Gabriel Uhlein, OSF, "Green Wisdom and the Shadow"
PANELISTS:
Carol Coston, OP and Elise Garcia, OP - Sisterfarm
Marya Grathwhol, OSF, Cancer and the Death penalty
Gail Worcelo, CP, The Ecozoic Monastery
Gloria Buynak, Communing with Nature
Marya Grathwhol, OSF, Pilgrimage as Celebration of Earth
Jeanne Northsinger, Using Earth Energy in Ceremonial Healing
1998 Sinsinawa Mound, Sinsinawa,WI
THEME: Sharing the Wisdom, Shaping the Dream
PRESENTERS: Stephanie Mills, author
PANELISTS:
Anita Brelage, OSF, Community Gardens
Mary Ellen Leciejewski, OP, Health Care Institutions
Chris Loughlin, OP, Land Trusts
Ann Sullivan, SP, Religious Congregations
Gail Worcelo, CP, Nature Poetry and Prayer
1996 Grailville, Loveland, OH
THEME: Sharing the Wisdom, Shaping the Dream
PRESENTERS: Thomas Berry, CP and Miriam Therese McGillis, OP
TOUR of Paula Gonzales, SC, Green Building
1994 St. Gabriel's Monastery, Clarks Summit, PA
THEME: Sharing the Wisdom, Shaping the Dream
PRESENTERS: none
PANELISTS: none
ORGANIZERS/SPONSORS: Mary Southard, CSJ; Toni Nash, CSJ; Mary Lou Dolan, CSJ; Sylvia Verde; Gail Worcelo, CP