Sabrina M. Chiefari is a Catholic Environmental Educator from Tkaronto/Toronto. As Integral Ecology Specialist for the Sisters of St. Joseph of Toronto, she is a long-time proponent of Deep Ecology and Integral Ecology.

Most of us, I think, still look to Summertime as the season of rest and renewal. If you’re feeling the pull to really slow-down and take a time out, but aren’t sure how, consider a retreat of Ignatian Spirituality, such as the ones offered by:

• Villa St. Joseph Ecology & Retreat Centre
• Loretto Maryholme
• Manresa Jesuit Spiritual Renewal Centre
• Loyola House at Ignatius Jesuit Centre

Is cost a barrier? Consider a public labyrinth.

You might be surprised where you find one, and guides are easy to find online or at your local library. Whether you visit once, daily, or anywhere in-between, labyrinths can help us meet ourselves where we are.

…to celebration…

Summer festivals and exhibitions allow us to celebrate everything and everyone! From the Na-Me-Res Pow Wow & Indigenous Arts Festival to ReconciliACTION, ROMWalks, and Vintage & Gallery Crawls, don’t miss out on the many joyful bursts of cultures, arts, and colours this summer.

…and solidarity

Exercising genuine solidarity as an individual can seem impossible. At times, we all ask ourselves “what difference can I make?” As Saint John Paul II reminds us,  solidarity “…is a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good; that is to say to the good of all and of each individual, because we are all really responsible for all.

Here are some September opportunities to think on as ways to express your solidarity:

• Grassy Narrows River Run 2024
• Global Day of Action (coinciding with The Summit of the Future)
• Spirit Garden Launch