b'THE MARIANIST ENCOUNTERS GOALSGOAL 1GOAL 3GOAL 5 Promote Justice,GOAL 2Listen and GOAL 4EmpowerPeace, and the TransformEducate in Foster throughIntegrity of throughFaith Sustainable Family Creation IntegralLifestyles SpiritEcologyfor all groups and individuals of all ages,Chaminade-Madonna College PreparatorySr. Leanne said. With Marianist Brother Jack Ventura as directorThe center partners with the other ministries of mission integration, Chaminade-Madonnaat Mount Saint John in land care, restoration, and College Preparatory in Hollywood, Florida, hassustainability practices, and has partnered with initiated a number of projects to live out themany Marianist-connected entities regionally, Marianist Encounters and Laudatonationally, and internationally.S/Global Compact on Education.As the director of MEEC, Sr. Leanne works The schools service week inwith the Integral Ecology Team of the Marianist February 2025 provided the oppor-Social Justice Collaborative (MSJC), along with tunity for students to listen to the cryher work with the Marianist Family Encounters of the Earth and the cry of the poor,Project and with Marianist universities andand to live out the first goal of theretreat centers. Marianist Family Encounters Project. MEEC also co-sponsored A Pilgrimage of During the week, students andHope for Creation with the Archdiocese of faculty worked off-campus withCincinnati and the Spirit Lay Community on nonprofit agencies, parks and beaches,Oct. 4, 2025. senior centers, and animal shelters to respond to Students from ChaminadeThis Pilgrimage of Hope for Creationon the needs of the larger community. They helped Madonna College Prepara-the feast of St. Franciscelebrated the 10th more than 20 organizations or service projects.tory inHollywood, Florida,anniversary of the environmental encyclical served the poor throughThe schools Board of Trustees also contributed the Marianist Family Laudato S, the 800th anniversary of the Canticle a day of service, volunteering at Feeding South Encounters Project.of the Creatures, and the Jubilee Year of Hope.PHOTO COURTESY OF CHAMINADE-The event engaged people and communities Florida in Pembrook Pines, Florida. Feeding South MADONNA COLLEGE PREPARATORYin Dayton committed to responding to the cry Florida provides food assistance and other resources,of the poor and the cry of the Earth. Theyand support to individuals and families experienc-explored concrete solutions to environmental ing food insecurity and hunger in Broward County.and social injusticeurban agriculture in a The result was an opportunity to make afood desert; remediation of air, soil, and water meaningful impact on our local charitable andservice organizations in the larger community,contamination in a low-income neighborhood; Bro. Jack stated. and a diverse haven for people and wildlife ina busy neighborhood. Linda Norris is a writer from St. Louis.FOR MORE INFORMATION about MEEC, visit its website at meec.center.TO READ MORE STORIES about Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatorys involvementwith the Marianist Encounters Project, visit www.marianistencounters.org/updates/search/chaminade-madonna.marianist.com/donate19'