Deep gratitude to Hannah White, 2021-22 St. Joseph Worker with Celeste’s Dream and the St. Kate’s/CSJ Food Access Hub. With excitement, we welcome Hannah to her new role as Celeste’s Dream Program Coordinator! Blessings to Jill Underdahl, CSJ as she transitions to her new role on the province leadership team.
Hear more from Hannah below.
SJW End-of-Year Reflection
By Hannah White
Every time we plant a seed, it’s an act of surrender. Of course, we do our best to make sure the seed has everything it needs to germinate. Ultimately, however, the seed’s fate relies on far more than just us. The earth, the rain, the sunshine… all play a part. The same can be said for vocation—we can’t control all aspects of our life’s work, or even what kind of work to which God calls us. All we can do is be receptive and pursue our callings with great care and zeal.
This year, I found a vocation in food justice work. Through my time with the St. Kate’s/CSJ Food Access Hub coordinating the food shelf, working with community members and students in the gardens, and learning from passionate and generous mentors, my understanding of food was fundamentally transformed. Food is not simply fuel, but a source of healing for both the earth and our bodies. Working for food justice is not an act of giving handouts, but a mutual act of loving the dear neighbor from all sides. This year, I experienced so much love flowing through my supervisors, the college students on our staff and who come through our doors, the patients at St. Mary’s Health Clinics, the Highland Catholic School students and teachers, the Tuesday night gardeners, and all the CSJ community members who support this work.
Like tending the seeds, this work calls for nimbleness and an understanding that many things are out of our control. But at the end of the day, I know surrender doesn’t mean inaction, and I now know food justice is an integral part of my vocation to love God and neighbor without distinction.
July 7th, 2022