"Landscaping Your Future" Program for Young Adults

MERIDEN, CT (June 2004) - The Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist designed a 10 day program for college age young adults who desired the opportunity to volunteer, explore the Catholic faith, work with their peers from various locations and reflect on God's place in their lives. The participants' work on a large landscaping project at the Sisters' Motherhouse provided experiential analogies for the students' personal and spiritual lives. Sixteen men and women participated in this program from six universities: University of St. Thomas in Houston, Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., University of Connecticut, Baylor University in Waco, Texas, Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio, and Western University in London, Ontario.

In addition to working on the landscaping project, the program included daily prayer and Mass, theological discussions and reflections, introduction to Franciscan spirituality, a pottery experience, working with bees, goats and chickens, cooking and working with senior citizens.

Sister Clare Hunter, FSE, Coordinator of Campus Ministry at University of St. Thomas, headed up the program.