Center for Earth Spirituality and Rural Ministry (CESRM)

School Sisters of Notre Dame
Mankato, MN

The Center for Earth Spirituality and Rural Ministry began with a proposal from the School Sisters of Notre Dame in Mankato, Minnesota to analyze the best ways to “be present” with rural communities in light of the steady migration of sisters leaving ministry jobs in rural communities and taking jobs in cities. This migration caused the sisters great concern, but reflected a broader trend among farming communities in the Midwest -- often leaving the remaining small family farmers and their families in a struggle to survive.

Co-directed by two School Sisters of Notre Dame, the Center is dedicated to practicing reverence for all of creation, promoting the connection between care for the earth and spirituality, supporting rural parish communities and those who minister there, and working with organizations that struggle to keep land and people together.

To learn from the wisdom of professionals and activists, the sisters teamed up with the Land Stewardship Project, a Minnesota organization long active in the area of sustainable agriculture, as well as the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and local Mankato social service agencies. They also held meetings with rural people throughout southern Minnesota. After hours of conversations the sisters found their own lives and practices moving into the center of their efforts to support the rural people of southern Minnesota and promote stewardship of creation.

Community gardens at the Center for Earth Spirituality and Rural Ministry

In the food service at the convent, for example, more than 600 meals are served daily. Recognizing the opportunity to support local farmers, the sisters decided to purchase all their vegetables, fruits, grains, meats and milk from local farmers, rather than purchase goods that require transportation over far distances.