Life Experience students lead Earth Day ceremony

Tuesday April 22, 2008

SHERBORN - Students from the Peace Abbey’s Life Experience School celebrated Earth Day a little early last Friday by participating in a tree-planning ceremony at the South Norfolk County ARC in Westwood.

It was a beautiful, sunny morning as more than 100 people with disabilities joined the five students to plant a weeping cherry tree. Lisa Knox, SNCARC program organizer, said, “We wanted a beautiful tree for the event. We wanted something beyond talking about recycling paper.”

SNCARC advocates and provides support services to people disabled by mental retardation and to their families.

Earth Day officially began on April 20, 1970, when more than 20 million Americans celebrated. It is now an annual tradition around the globe.

Knox was thrilled to have the Peace Abbey join the Earth Day celebration led by Director Lewis Randa and Program Coordinator Dot Walsh. The Life Experience Day Program teaches young adults with special needs how to become members of a caring, socially conscious community by taking part in Peace Abbey events as well as volunteering in local organizations such as the Natick Service Council, Millis Food Pantry and a halfway house based in Framingham.

To begin the program, Knox introduced Rabbi Wildstein from Temple Beth David in Westwood. The rabbi explained how planting a tree is significant and important in the Jewish religion; it is a way of celebrating our spirituality. He said, “The respect for trees is something we have in common with all religions … Traditionally, one plants a tree at the birth of a child. As the tree grows so does the child.”

He told the audience “to take pleasure in what a beautiful day it is, but in also that we come together as brothers and sisters … we can celebrate life.” The rabbi narrated a story on how an old Jewish man plants a tree for the next generation to enjoy even though he himself will never see it grow to maturity. He left the crowd with a blessing in Hebrew honoring nature.

Knox then introduced Randa and Walsh, saying, “I thought I left my heart and spirit in Venice when I visited there, but then I went to the Peace Abbey…” They had brought sacred water from the Ganges River. Hindu beliefs hold that bathing in the river causes forgiveness of sins and helps attain salvation.

“We brought it to bless your tree,” Randa said. While all took turns sprinkling the water on the tree, a recording that was brought by Randa played in the background. It is based on the belief of Chief Seattle, chief of the Suquamish Indians in the 1800s, that “the earth does not belong to us. We belong to the earth.”

Next Walsh motioned all those in the audience to just watch what she does and to follow along. The group recited “Brother Sun, Sister Moon,” a prayer by St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the environment. Walsh said the prayer is the morning invocation at the weekly ceremony around the Peacemakers Table. Many dedicated peace activists, including Mother Teresa, Maya Angelou, Muhammad Ali and Daniel Berrigan, have congregated around the table over the years.

Knox handed the Life Experience students the first burlap bags of dirt used to plant the tree. Those participating included Jeff Boland, Jimmy Connors, Lizzy Holz, Cal Hottelet, Filly Mastrangelo and Bobby Niro. Mastrangelo added her own special touch by tossing in a small blue and rose-colored quartz stone to the tree’s hole that she conveniently found on the grounds that morning. “I have a way of finding quartz really easily,” she said.

After a vegetarian lunch prepared by the SNCARC staff for the Peace Abbey visitors, a wildlife presentation was planned by the South Shore Natural Science Center to highlight the beauty of New England owls and demonstrate ways to protect their habitats. The day also included a Day Habilitation program on topics ranging from global warming to endangered species.

The Peace Abbey offers a variety of programs to teach and inspire others to act on issues of peace and social justice. To take part in the Peacemakers Table held each Thursday at 10:30 a.m., call the Abbey at 508-655-2143 or e-mail info@peaceabbey.org.