b'PRAYER FOR ALL SEASONSAs Pope Francis noted in Laudato S: Our common home is like a The Marianist Environmental Education Center (MEEC) worksPHOTOS BY JULIE WALLINGsister with whom we share our life and a beautiful mother who opens year-round to nurture and heal the environment at Mount Saint Johnher arms to embrace us. in Dayton, Ohio, sharing its beauty and hope with visitors. MEECsMount Saint Johns Sacred Embrace Earthworks embodies those staff publishes observation and reflection guides for each of the seasons.words. Designed by artist Carrie Pate in 1997, the sculpted landscape Its director, Marianist Sister Leanne Jablonski, shared some of her favoriteserves as home to 38 perennial species native to Ohio, thriving on spots and reflections, based on the seasons. Similarly inspired, photog-land that once was a dumping ground. rapher Julie Walling captured Mount Saint Johns seasonal beauty.SPRING FALLBefore the trees in the wet and dry Sister Jablonski takes special woods leaf out, skunk cabbage solace in the labyrinth walk inbreaks through the soil, thenthe front meadow, a sacredorchids and Jack-in-the-pulpit space for listening to the long-emerge. Every three days is a ing of the soul. I have a differ-new dance of the wildflowers, ent spiritual energy and insightSister Jablonski said. Its just each time: focusing on walking,gorgeous.letting go, and being open to theTo renew the face of the Earth, insights that come.the center reinvigorates the prairieby burning a third of it each year in REFLECTIONMarch or April, depending on conditions. For what harvest or abundance are you grateful?From that, theres a promise of new growth and new life, she said.REFLECTION WINTER What has been planted in you and is waiting to emerge?MEECs staff and friends gather before dawn on the day of the Winter Solstice to read the Popes message for World Day of Peace.Sister Jablonski gets out her drum, and the group marches to a chantSUMMER she created in 1998: Light our way, light ourThe early days are filled with way, light our way in the darkness. Lightthe annual native plant sale our way, light our way. Be our path ofand the Midwest Native peace. Be our path of hope.Plant Conference, but the Led by a torch carrier, they center is busy throughout walk through the Sacred Embracethe season with butterfly Earthwork to the prairie, then buildsurveys. There is morea bonfire and pray as the sun rises.diversity of butterflies herethan anywhere in the region REFLECTIONbecause we house so many Of what do you need to let go? ecosystems: wet wood, drywood, and pond prairie, she said. Kathleen NelsonREFLECTIONWhat new life or buds are you noticing in yourself?SPRING: Virginia Blue Bells in the Marianist Nature Preserve; SUMMER: Sugar Maple leaves in the Marianist Nature Preserve; FALL: Virginia Creeper in the Bro. Don GeigerTall Grass Prairie; WINTER: dormant and barren trees on the Marianist Nature Trail.marianist.com/donate 13'