Community of Cape May Point Advances Laudato Si’ and Marianist Family Encounters Project Initiatives

Inspired by Pope Francis' Laudato Si', the Cape May Point community and Mary's House Retreat Center are championing environmental stewardship, spiritual growth, and social solidarity through a comprehensive range of sustainable practices and inclusive outreach programs.

The community of Cape May Point, in collaboration with our Marianist Family Retreat Center, Mary’s House, has been actively engaging in a variety of actions to support Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’ initiative through the Marianist Family Encounters Project. Our efforts aim to promote sustainability, environmental stewardship, and education, while fostering a deeper sense of community and spiritual reflection.

Key Actions Undertaken by the Community:

1. Solar Panels from 2008 – Our community has been utilizing solar energy for over a decade, reducing reliance on non-renewable energy sources.

2. LED Lighting Conversion – We have replaced traditional bulbs with energy-efficient LED lighting throughout our facilities.

3. Rainwater Collection – We have implemented systems to collect and reuse rainwater, conserving water resources.

4. Recycling Program – We actively collect and recycle plastics, cardboard, glass, and bottle caps to minimize waste.

5. Dune Reforestation and Community Cleanup – In collaboration with local residents of Cape May, we participate in reforesting dunes and cleaning the surrounding environment.

6. Repurposing Wood – Wood from trees is creatively repurposed into salad containers, fruit holders, and multi-use items, giving new life to natural materials.

7. Monarch Project – We support the third and fourth generations of monarch butterflies. Each summer, we tag the butterflies with micro-tags provided by the University of Kansas. Last summer, we tagged over 25 monarchs. This effort helps scientists track and count monarch populations, providing essential data for conservation. In our garden, we provide plants, flowers, and safe spaces free from predators to ensure butterflies can reproduce successfully.

8. Composting – Organic waste is transformed into compost, which serves as a fertilizer for our vegetables and flowers.

9. Organic Vegetable Garden – We grow an entirely organic garden with the goal of sharing its produce with participants of our retreats, promoting environmental awareness and sustainability education.

10. Evangelization Through Music – Members of our community offer musical compositions inspired by the Holy Spirit, sharing faith and culture with the Marianist family and the broader world.

11. Vehicle Replacement – We are transitioning to vehicles that consume less gasoline, further reducing our environmental impact.

12. Refugee Retreat – We offer a retreat for refugees, with the purpose of sharing our resources and showing solidarity with our foreign brothers and sisters. Inspired by Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’, we aim to promote universal fraternity, care for our common home, and uphold the dignity of every person, especially those in vulnerable situations. This retreat seeks not only to meet material needs but also to foster inclusion, hospitality, and respect for all cultures, strengthening the awareness that we are all interconnected and called to live in harmony with one another and with creation.

Through these initiatives, the Cape May Point community and Mary’s House Retreat Center are demonstrating a holistic approach to environmental stewardship, education, and spiritual growth. Each project reflects our commitment to caring for creation, fostering awareness, and preparing future generations to live responsibly in harmony with nature.

Update sent by Bro. Esteban Reyes, SM,

Marianist Community of Cape May Point, NJ