Transformation

Would you believe that this old, undated photo of a small house at Loretto is directly connected to our vision of building a new, accessible cabin? “How so?” you might ask.

My response takes us back to Sr. Jane Marie Richardson SL who is well known for her vision of a contemplative community which she called “Cedars of Peace.” But her vision wasn’t only about inviting seekers to experience contemplative living. The founding spirit of Cedars also included the simplicity of salvaging and reusing available materials.

The small house in the photo is where Jane Marie lived as she began making her vision of Cedars of Peace a reality and it is a stark example of reuse. Why? Because it had originally housed pit toilets for the sisters before they had indoor plumbing!

Calling forth the beauty of materials that would have been overlooked or discarded is a tangible reminder that transformation is possible on many levels. It is our prayer that the Belonging cabin will contribute to the transformation of attitudes that judge people with disabilities as “less than” and deepen the awareness that everyone has value as they are and for who they are.