As Maryknoll Sisters, spring and Easter are a time to renew our faith in God and rebirth in baptism’s lifegiving waters. In our Easter devotions, we will give special homage to “Sister Water,” which Saint Francis, in his Canticle of Creation, called: So useful, humble, precious, and pure, who maintains our health and holiness.
As custodians of our One Earth Community, the Maryknoll Sisters will celebrate World Water Day on March 22, a global event that raises awareness of the importance of clean water, sanitation, and the need for sustainable management of freshwater resources. Yet, the availability of water for many members of our One Earth Community is in grave danger as our climate crisis deepens.
Sister Pat Ryan, MM Makes God’s Love Visible through her urgent work with indigenous peoples in the Puno Region of Peru. Livestock around the Condoraque River were dying without explanation.
Working with the Organization for Human Rights and the Environment, Sister Pat, along with human rights lawyers and an agronomist and educator, heard testimonies from villagers and stratagems from mining representatives. The findings were conclusive: The 30-year-old mine had transformed the Condoraque River—from a source of life into burning waters full of acid drainage and toxic sludge, making the water unsafe for livestock and human consumption.
Thanks to the generosity of those who support Sister Pat and the Maryknoll Sisters, the team could provide the education, information, and legal advice the indigenous people needed to go public with the truth and defend their rights and the rights of Mother Earth in a non-violent manner. Their efforts resulted in a court decision that requires the mining company to remediate the environmental damages already caused in the region!
Turning the tide of ecological disasters like the Condoraque River is just the beginning. While many of us cannot go to Peru and do the work, we can help protect our shared waters. Please donate to this most critical work and, even more importantly, keep the work of Sister Pat and the Maryknoll Sisters in your prayers.
Field trip to Condoraque to visit polluted river and community affected. Trinidad Carlos Serna at the site of the River Quilcani with Pedro Camacho and Simon Orihuela with stones from the river showing stains from pollution from the mine upstream.
Photo: (C) Sean Sprague 2009