Eco Catholic

As Milwaukee Franciscan Sr. Jose Hobday moved about the country presenting her retreats, the only items in her traveling wardrobe were two dresses and a sewing kit.

Hobday, who was part Seneca and Iroquois, called upon her Native American roots and its storytelling tradition to live simply and teach about prayer and spirituality. Simple living is "about choosing time for people and ideas and self-growth rather than for maintenance and guarding and possessing and cleaning," she wrote in her book, Simple Living.

Seattle punctuated Earth Day 2013 with the dedication of what is touted as "the world's greenest commercial building."

Seattle University will be among those testing that claim.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn were among dignitaries at the grand opening of the Bullitt Center, a $30 million, six-story, 50,000-square-foot office building that will generate all its own electricity, capture and store rain for all its water needs, compost its own waste, and treat its greywater on-site.

Lisette Noisette is a talented young poet. One of her creations -- a personal act of contrition to Earth -- would make a beautiful opening prayer for upcoming Earth Day observances.

Please forgive me ... forgive me for scratching your dry skin and draining up your veins ... What am I going to do without you? If you die, I will no longer live.