Mercy Ministry funds to strengthen Hurst’s sustainability efforts

mercyhurst tiny forestBuilding upon decades of environmental initiatives and uniting behind Pope Francis’ Laudato si’ Action Plan to care for the Earth, “our common home,” Mercyhurst University today announced receipt of a $40,000 grant from the Sisters of Mercy that will be used to strengthen its sustainability efforts.

“As an outgrowth of their ‘Journey to Oneness,’ the Sisters recently consolidated funds to create the Mercy Fund for Ministry, providing a grant opportunity for their many Mercy ministries,” explained Mercyhurst Vice President for Mission Dr. Greg Baker. “They specifically sought grant requests connected to their five critical concerns, one being care for the Earth.”

With its allocation, Mercyhurst will hire a part-time sustainability coordinator who will work to implement efficiencies in materials use and waste practices and conduct audits of energy use across campus.

The new coordinator will also work to expand programming, especially in educating the local community through creative environmental sustainability initiatives on campus, such as the “Tiny Forest”* in front of the Center for Academic Engagement.

“Mercyhurst has an enduring commitment to environmental sustainability, most notably in the past 25 years,” Baker said. “One-time employee and outspoken advocate for the Earth, the late Sister Maura Smith championed many environmental initiatives and dialogues at the university and in the local area. An annual Earth Day lecture in her name marks her historical significance for the university.”

That history, combined with the university’s recent commitment to the Laudato si’ Action Plan calling for more Catholic organizations around the world to take steps to better care for the Earth, are the impetus behind the new focus.

“We’re not starting from scratch,” said Colin Hurley, executive director for community engagement and sustainability manager at Mercyhurst who will oversee the latest developments. “There are decades of environmental efforts and a legacy at Mercyhurst that we are building upon as we look toward these next seven years on the journey.”

The Laudato si’ platform, which President Kathleen A. Getz, Ph.D., supported early on, calls for participants to achieve seven goals over the next seven years as responsible environmental stewards. Broadly addressed, they are:

  • To respond to the cry of the Earth.
  • To respond to the cry of those who are poor and vulnerable.
  • To foster ecological economics.
  • To adopt sustainable lifestyles.
  • To develop and offer ecological education.
  • To promote an ecological spirituality.
  • To support local communities and to promote community resilience and empowerment. 

Hurley said the university hopes to have the new sustainability coordinator on board in August.

*Mercyhurst’s Tiny Forest, in which more than 600 trees are planted in a plot the size of a tennis court on the front of campus, was inspired by the work of Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki. Miniature forests are purported to grow 10 times faster and become 30 times denser than those planted by conventional methods. Like their larger counterparts, micro forests absorb carbon from the air, soak up storm water, provide habitat for wildlife, cool air in the summer, and mute noise. 

PHOTO: Students plant Tiny Forest in front of Center for Academic Engagement as part of the university’s sustainability efforts.