Brophy College Preparatory 2009 Summit on Human Dignity

One People, One Planet, One Mission:
Renewing Our Commitment to Sustainability and Stewardship

A Forum to Examine Global Environmental Issues in Light of Our Gospel Call
to Respect and Promote the Human Dignity of Each Person.

 

Day Ten: Thursday, February 11, 2009
Summit Closing Prayer Service
Rev. Jim Profit, S.J.

We will close the 2009 Summit on Human Dignity in the same way we began… in prayer, thanking God for all we experienced, reflected on, and discussed.  We also ask the Spirit to continue guiding us as we prayerfully discern how what we have learned and been touched by will shape our thoughts and actions on both a personal and communal level.  Fr. James Profit, S.J. will preside at our closing prayer service.

James Profit, S.J. is the Director of the Ignatius Jesuit Centre of Guelph.  The Centre consists 600 acres of farmland, wetlands and woods.  It has an ecology and agriculture ministry including a Community Shared Agriculture (CSA) vegetable production, an organic farm internship program, a community gardens, a forest restoration project and the Ecology Project, which addresses socio-ecological issues from a faith perspective.  Loyola House, a retreat and training centre specializing in the Spiritual Exercises is also located on the property. 
Jim has academic training in agriculture, rural sociology and theology.  His love for the outdoors has been nurtured by his upbringing in Prince Edward Island, and ministry in Jamaica and an Aboriginal community on Manitoulin Island.

Related Articles:
The Spiritual Exercises and Ecology www.ignatiusguelph.ca/ecology/docs/promotio_article.pdf
More articles at www.ignatiusguelph.ca/ecology/eco_articles.htm

Fr. Profit will also lead a workshop on Wednesday, February 4th (description below).
We live in an age of Ecological Crisis.  At root of the ecological crisis is a spiritual crisis.  We fail to recognize the presence of God with all of Creation.  When considering the extent of the crisis, we may be tempted to despair.  Yet, we have every reason to be people of hope.  Our hope comes from our experience of the Earth and of the resurrection.  The Earth gives life to our soul as well as our body.  I will discuss the ecological crisis and how our Ignatian Spirituality can give us an awe-filled experience of Earth and enable us to be a hope-filled healing presence for the Earth.