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Prairiewoods Franciscan Spirituality Center opened its doors in July of 1996 as a ministry of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration of La Crosse, Wisconsin. The land had been purchased earlier by the community.
The foundational vision for this center, with its 30 acres of prairie and 40 acres of woodlands, is the integration of spirituality and ecology based on the new story of the universe, the writings of Thomas Berry, Brian Swimme and similar authors.
Also at work in the development of the underlying philosophy is the Franciscan concept of the immanence of God in the created world. Francis, who valued the natural world as "a place where God is revealed," encouraged his followers by his own unique celebration of creation.
With this basis in mind, the six community members named by the Leadership of FSPA as the directors or the Core Group spent a year in study and discussion before creating a workable philosophy. They spent time on the land itself in order to learn from the sacred manuscript of nature. As they made practical plans for the new center, they determined that all decisions made in the development of the property would be based on environmental principles.
The construction of the main Center Building, Guest House and Staff Residence includes such environmental features as the use of natural materials, berms around buildings and use of renewable energy where possible. A schedule for gradual restoration of prairie sites has begun and ecological practices meant to protect the environment are in use.
A later development is the construction of two comfortable straw bale hermitages near the woods for those desiring more solitude. There, solar powered electricity and radiant floor heating are models of environmental sustainability.
The trail network through the woods includes a Cosmic Walk which highlights major "moments of grace" on our 14 billion evolutionary journey. A resource center offers an unusual collection of books, videos and tapes supporting an ecologically based spirituality and expanding on aspects of The Universe Story. Resources of a more traditional nature are also available.
Networking with organizations such as Trees Forever and Iowa Renewable Energy Association has provided support for environmental goals.
Each year a major speaker is engaged to offer a conference on a topic related to the theme of "Spirituality in the 21st Century." Among these outstanding presenters have been John Shea, Joyce Rupp, Diarmuid O'Murchu, Wayne Teasdale and Joe Nassal. These events, as well as other programs at Prairiewoods, have drawn participants from a broad area in the Midwest as well as both coasts.
In the establishment of Prairiewoods, the Franciscan sisters hope to provide a place for the gathering and connecting of the faith community. We welcome people of all religious and ethnic backgrounds to make this center a spiritual base where dialogue around issues of faith and the environment can be held.
Prairiewoods has been featured in two books: Sustainability and Spirituality by James Carroll, published by State University of New York Press and Renewing the Countryside edited by Shellie Orngard and Jan Joannides and published by the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture and other Iowa groups.
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| The day will come when after harnessing space, the wind, the tides and gravitation, we will harness for God the energies of love. And on that day for the second time in the history of the world, we shall have discovered fire. |
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- Teilhard de Chardin
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