The ushering in of a new year provides a great opportunity to slow down, reflect, and take time to be thankful for the many blessings of the past year. Here at the CEC we have SO many things to be grateful for! 2023 was a year of much grace, joy, and growth. While we can never totally capture all of the life that abounds here, enjoy a brief recap of some of the amazing happenings here at the Catholic Ecology Center!

Ecology Programs

“The initial step for us all to come to the knowledge of God is contemplation of nature.”

– St. Irenaeus of Lyons

This year’s ecology programming covered all ends of the earth! In March we hosted our Bug Bonanza showcasing all sorts of incredible creatures from large rhinoceros beetles, to beautiful iridescent butterflies, and walking sticks that are over a foot long from thorax to antennae! But don’t worry- we spent plenty of time loving the land right here too! With owl prowls, maple syrupin’, water quality testing, pond studies, and wildlife monitoring, and more school groups, homeschool science classes, volunteers, and the general public all were welcomed to learn more about this amazing common home of ours!

Retreats

“Contemplative prayer in my opinion is nothing else than a close sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with Him who we know loves us.”

– St. Teresa of Avila

We know that our relationship with God is of the utmost importance- it permeates all our other relationships: with others, with the world around us, even with ourselves! It’s so important to nourish that relationship and take special time for God- to bask in the quiet, to become aware of His loving presence, and to challenge ourselves to grow ever closer to Him and what He desires for us. It is such an honor and beautiful responsibility then, to offer retreats that provide people the opportunity to come to know God ever more deeply. This year we were able to journey alongside teens as they prepared for the sacrament of confirmation, adults as they readied themselves for RCIA, school staff as they anticipated the school year, students as they celebrated the community of their classrooms, and many other holy men and women as they entered into the liturgical season with our various Lent, Advent, St. Francis Day retreats and more!

Stewardship

“The LORD God then took the man and settled him in the garden of Eden, to cultivate and care for it.“

-Genesis 2:15

The dedication of our tireless volunteers is matched only by their joy! This year we had over 1500 volunteer hours logged as people shared their time and talent through all sorts of avenues including but not limited to: cleaning the chicken coop, gathering seeds, sewing wonderful new tablecloths, taking care of our critters, maintaining the trails, and so much more! Thank you SO much for your cheerful giving!

Workshops

“If you work with your hands, you’re a laborer. If you work with your hands and your mind, you’re a craftsman. If you work with your hands and your mind and your heart, you’re an artist.“

– St. Francis of Assisi

This year the CEC provided many opportunities for laborers, craftsmen, and artists alike! Folks were able to spend time honing their drawing skills through wildlife art classes, or create their own natural paint with foraged ink classes. Many had the chance to become familiar with the property and our Wisconsin natives ecosystems as they foraged for wild edibles, collected mushrooms, and learned how to make tasty drinks from foraged plants. Plenty of women enjoyed faith, fun and fellowship with our ever popular advent wreath making class, and keep your eyes peeled for our newest workshop addition- chocolate making, where you can learn about sustainable cocoa production, make some tasty treats and of course sample along the way!

Building Addition

“Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.“

2 Corinthians 9:6

God has been so good to us, and so have so many of you! Thank you for helping us reap generously! We are SO excited for our new building addition and ever so grateful for the generosity of many who are making it happen! It has been so exciting to see the many stages of progress along the way- from excavation, to foundation pouring, framing and more! It  really is taking shape and the new observation deck, breakout room, welcome center and most importantly, chapel, will allow us to better serve the Lord and you! Caring for creation and living sustainably are at the heart of what we do here at the CEC, but they are also literally within the walls and materials of this new building! To learn more about the amazing green features of our addition, check out the blogpost HERE. Could God be calling you to help us grow? Click HERE for ways to help us achieve this amazing goal!

Fellowship

“Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring one another.“

– Romans 12:10

Spending time and delighting in the presence of our CEC family is a highlight of the year for sure!  Our annual CEC campout this summer brought many smiles, smores, and saints in the making to our grounds! We had so much fun at our St. Francis Feast Day celebration with the petting zoo, pumpkin painting, and ax throwing too! And who can forget the beautiful candlelight hikes?! Singing carols and gathering around the fire with loved ones makes us feel warm even during these cold winter months! There are so many fond memories to look back on, and so many good things to look forward to in this new year!

By the Numbers

• Schools, Parishes and Organizations Served: 57 
• Educational Hours Taught: 645
• Service Hours Completed: 1,548
• Monarch Butterflies released: 99

Thank you for a GREAT 2023, we CANNOT WAIT to make more memories with you in 2024!