“This Good Work” is the Congregation’s bi-monthly e-newsletter to give witness to Precious Blood Spirituality through the lens of social justice, rooted in Gospel values and Catholic social teaching. In it we share real, legitimate information and ways Sisters are thinking about and living out many issues of peace, justice and ecology. This is curated by Peace, Justice and Ecology Coordinator Jen Morin-Williamson and features articles by Sisters and guest writers.
Stewardship: A Living Expression of Faith
By Jen Morin-Williamson, Peace, Justice, and Ecology Coordinator
It feels fitting to be writing this reflection on Earth Day 2026. Over the years, This Good Work has featured many stories about the Congregation’s commitment to environmental stewardship. But for the Sisters, care for the Earth isn’t just a project or initiative. It’s a way of life. That commitment is woven into daily habits, shaped in part by their vow of poverty. The Sisters are thoughtful and intentional about what they use and purchase. Before buying something new, they ask simple but powerful questions: Do I really need this? Could I borrow it? Might someone else already have what I’m looking for? Long before sustainability became a widespread concern, they were rinsing and reusing plastic bags, not only to save money, but to avoid contributing to waste. Even their clothing tells a story. Compliment a Sister on a sweater, and you’ll likely hear, “I’ve had this for decades,” or “It belonged to another Sister.” This spirit of reuse and care isn’t a trend. It’s part of their DNA.
Laudato Si’: Still called to conversion
By Jen Morin-Williamson, Peace, Justice, and Ecology Coordinator
God of all creation,
We pause in gratitude
for the beauty, abundance, and quiet wisdom of the earth.
You remind us, as Laudato Si’ teaches,
that everything is connected—
that the care of our common home
is inseparable from care for one another.
Help us to live with greater awareness
of how our choices shape the world around us.
Give us the grace to be mindful stewards—
to waste less, to share more,
and to act with love for the poor and for generations yet to come.
In the spirit of Precious Blood Spirituality,
may we recognize the sacredness flowing through all life,
binding us together in compassion and responsibility.
And when we are tempted to think we’ve done “enough,”
gently remind us that there is no certificate of completion,
only the ongoing invitation to grow in love.
Bless our small, faithful efforts, O God,
and multiply them for the healing of the world.
Amen.
Above right, photo by Casey Horner on Unsplash; above, in slider, photo by Noah Buscher on Unsplash
Caring for creation, one scrap at a time
By Laura Valentine, Food Service Director, Salem Heights
Our food service department at Salem Heights, our central house in Dayton, started working with GoZERO composting at the beginning of March. After learning about this organization from Peace, Justice, and Ecology Coordinator Jen Morin-Williamson and researching the importance of composting for our planet, we were excited to do our part! In the U.S., food waste accounts for approximately 24% of municipal solid waste. When placed in the landfill, it produces methane gas which is bad for the environment. If it is composted instead, it decomposes aerobically, reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Due to GoZERO’s larger scale “disposal-centric” approach to composting, we are now able to compost ALL of our food waste, compostable containers and paper products. We have been filling three 64-gallon bins every two weeks. Fresh produce is a large part of the diet at Salem Heights, resulting in many peels and scraps. The staff is doing a great job of making this a priority, and we are happy to do our part to support the Sisters’ mission and the common good.
Small changes, lasting impact
By Linda Scharf, Zero Waste Team at Ascension Parish, Mother of God Family of Parishes
Bold faith … I have always struggled with how to be bold in my faith. With fellow Christians and believers, it is easy for me to share my love of God and how the Holy Spirit guides me. But when it comes to sharing God’s Word with nonbelievers or family who have turned away, I stumble.
But when the Holy Spirit ignited a fire within me to live a more sustainable life, I also received the courage to be bold in sharing what I have learned with others, including complete strangers. Caring for the resources God has given us became so important to me. Because plastic poses significant risks to both our environment and health, I committed myself to removing it from my daily routine and encouraging others to find ways to do the same. I joined a team at my family of parishes called Caring for God’s Creation, and we started hosting events and educating others on how to live more sustainably and responsibly with regard to God’s creation.
Restoring Beauty and Hope
By Sr. Leanne Jablonski, FMI, Marianist Environmental Education Center
The beauty of springtime is a transformative balm for our long-wintered souls. As I take walks to appreciate the ephemeral woodland wildflowers that dance on the woodland floor each April-May, they move me to awe and wonder and restore my energy for the hard work of Pope Francis’ call in Laudato Si’ (LS) to respond to the cries of the earth, the poor and youth. In his book God’s Beauty: A Call to Justice (2012), Patrick McCormick writes of the attraction to beauty as an approach to justice since it opens us “to the wonder, mystery, and goodness of the other and the larger world around us, stimulating a generous or artistic creativity eager to collaborate with others in building up the masterpiece of the common good.” He invites us to see our work of justice as one of restoring beauty in the lives of others and our planet, saying that “the enjoyment and creation of beauty is a fundamental right of all peoples as we are fashioned to be co-creators of beauty and we need some element of beauty to survive and flourish as persons and communities.”
Little Bluestem Prayer