Mission
Prairiewoods Franciscan Spirituality Center is a sacred space where people of all faiths and cultures are invited to explore and nurture their relationships with the Source of all Being, Earth, Self and Others, with an increasing awareness of the story of the Universe.
Vision
The vision of Prairiewoods is of people everywhere, awakened in consciousness and energized by the loving, creative Spirit of the Universe into a community, moving together into wisdom, compassion and the fullness of life.
Our People
Our Values
Prairiewoods is committed to the following values inspired by our Franciscan roots:
Integrative Wellbeing
Nurturing mind, body and spirit through personal and communal transformation and creative expression
Relationship Building
Forging deep connections with the Source of All Being, Earth, Self and Others
Spiritual Encounters
Inviting connectedness and growth for an ever-evolving personal journey
Hospitality of
Belonging
Offering a space where individuals and communities are welcomed and nourished
Companioning with
All of Creation
Caring for Creation through sustainable and regenerative practices
Origin Story
Prairiewoods Franciscan Spirituality Center was founded in 1996 by six Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration (FSPA) as an ecological spirituality center. Its mission and purpose focused on nurturing spirituality, especially our understanding of our relationship to self, others, nature, and the Source of All Being.
Foundations of an Ecological Spirituality
God
From a distant God, above and beyond creation, to a God who is both beyond and present—here and now. This God’s love is seen in the unfolding of life. Creation itself reveals God, who works from within and is never separate from us or the world.
Human
Shifting from viewing humans as the center of everything—separate from and above nature, treating Earth and its creatures as mere resources—to recognizing the deep connections and interdependence of all life.
Universe
Shifting from seeing the world as just a lifeless machine to realizing that Earth is alive, constantly evolving and unfolding. Everything shares a common origin—we are all connected, descendants and relatives of everything in the universe.
The Universe Story
The Universe Story has been inspirational in the foundation and development of Prairiewoods. The story tells us so much about the Divine, about ourselves and our role on Earth, and about the sacredness of all Creation. This is a story emerging in theological and scientific circles, telling us that the Original Fireball contained all that exists today. This is the source of all, coming from the heart of Divine Mystery.
As theologian Elizabeth Johnson tells this story, “About 15 billion years ago a single numinous speck exploded in an outpouring of matter and energy, shaping a universe that is still expanding.” This burst of matter and energy brought forth over 100 billion galaxies, our planetary system, Earth and all the creatures on it. In this universe, everything is connected to everything else. We have all evolved from common ancestors and are kin.
We believe that the Creator Spirit remains present within this universe, guiding the ongoing evolutionary process from within. This leads us to accept the importance of human beings, realizing that we are part of the mystery of the universe, but not the lords of creation. Our role is to be partners with God in protecting and honoring the sacredness of our home.
We hope to make the integration of care of Earth an integral part of the human spiritual journey.
The Story of the Land
Prairiewoods is blessed to be caretakers for an abundance of natural beauty and a variety of wildlife within our 67 acres of woodlands and prairies. We find joy in our responsibility to actively protect and restore the abundance of life found on these sacred grounds.In 2020 Prairiewoods protected its woodland and prairie in perpetuity by putting it into a conservation easement with the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation.
The land here is older than human memory. For thousands of years in eastern Iowa many indigenous people camped, hunted, fished and made their homes here. Some tribes changed location by choice at different times during the history of this region, but most were forced from their ancestral lands into parts of eastern Iowa by the U.S. government. Meskwaki, Sauk, Ho-chunk and Ioway were among the indigenous tribes that lived or visited here long before the settlers arrived.
The land that would become Prairiewoods Franciscan Spirituality Center was part of 1.25 million acres acquired by the government in a treaty with the Sauk and Fox (Meskwaki) Tribe in 1837. By 1900 settlers had converted 95% of the prairie, two-thirds of the woodlands and most of the wetlands to agriculture. The land was purchased by Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration (FSPA) in 1961.
In the late 1980s, the FSPAs commissioned to develop this site crafted a statement of philosophy to express the relationship they wished to have with this land. It was important that an ecologically sound design enabling visitors and occupants to experience a simple, holistic and spiritual lifestyle be maintained. The relationship between the land and the occupants would have its basis in the heritage of the Franciscan order, whose hallmark is a loving relationship with God’s creation, and in new understandings of the human/Earth relationship as expressed in the Universe Story. It was deemed important that the entire project, land and buildings, inspire a bond between visitor and the Creator, as well as a bond between visitor and Creation.
Ecological Practices
In addition to protecting this piece of Creation, we also seek to reduce our impact on the greater world through the use of proven ecological principles. Our goal is to move beyond simple sustainability to having a regenerative impact. We would be happy to help your organization learn from our experience!
As caretakers of these 67 acres of land, Prairiewoods’ staff is committed to offering facilities that use alternative energy sources, a sustainable treatment of the land, conservation of natural resources and other earth-friendly practices.
In 2023, Prairiewoods added to our solar array. We now have 196 solar panels that are tied into the electrical grid and provide nearly 100% of our electricity. Here is our 12-month energy production report, which shows that we have offset 36.6 tons of carbon in 12 months, the equivalent of nearly 4,000 gallons of gas!
The following is a list of some of the green features that demonstrate Prairiewoods’ commitment to care for creation:
Our Green Features
These features demonstrate Prairiewoods’ commitment to care for creation.
Buildings
- Eco-friendly architectural design melds buildings into the existing landscape.
- Conservation of large trees provides shade and enhances beauty.
- Berming around structures assists with insulation and noise pollution abatement.
- Solar tubes and large windows light spaces naturally.
- Compact fluorescent lights and LED lights create efficient lighting.
- Low-flow toilets conserve water.
- Energy-efficient appliances reduce energy consumption.
- Green-cleaning practices and avoidance of pesticides reduce our chemical impact on humans and the environment.
Energy Use
- 196 solar modules are tied into the electrical grid and provide over 80% of our electricity.
- Solar tubes in the restrooms and hallways bring natural light and reduce electricity usage.
- Extensive practices earned LEED® Gold certification in 2012 by the U.S. Green Building Council.
- Trombe wall provides passive solar heating for three apartments.
- Solar hot water system provides hot water for showers, laundry and other uses.
Land and Water
- A holistic land management approach includes prairie and woodland restoration efforts.
- Retention ponds allow for responsible drainage of stormwater and provide aquatic habitat.
- Bioswales take runoff from the parking lots and allow it to slowly percolate into the soil, preventing erosion and purifying water in the process.
Hermitages
- Straw-bale construction enhances insulation and models bio-friendly, recyclable housing options.
- Solar panels provide all electrical power, allowing these buildings to be independent of the electrical grid.
- Radiant floor heating provides heat for the buildings.
- Wetland septic system recycles all waste and gray water.
Waste Reduction
- Low-waste kitchen uses all reusable utensils and plates and features food from our on-site gardens and local farms.
- A bottle filler on the water fountain in the main center reduces reliance on single use plastics.
- Paper towels are composted, reducing waste sent to the landfill.
- Cleaning supplies are bought in bulk, and refillable containers are used whenever possible.
- Composting returns food waste to the earth to help the gardens grow.