On Saturday, April 21, 2018, after facilitating a hope-filled workshop “Inspiration in a Time of Climate Change” Marya Grathwohl was presented with the Sacred Universe Award at The Well Spirituality Center. The award, given annually since 1993, recognizes leaders in the field whose work and life fosters mutually enhancing relationships between Earth and humans. The Award was first presented to Thomas Berry in 1993 by John Surette, SJ and Mary Southard, CSJ, and continues to be given through The Well Spirituality Center to this day. Mary and John initiated the Sacred Universe Award to honor the recipient, and to renew them and all those who gather to celebrate with them, in their commitment to this difficult and great work.
Marya Grathwohl is an Oldenburg Franciscan and Founding Director of Earth Hope. Marya lived for 23 years in Northern Cheyenne, Crow and African-American communities. Her work is shaped by what she learned from them: spiritualities of respect for nature, social justice and resilience in life-threatening difficulties.
An activist and writer for a flourishing earth community, Marya worked to revitalize a 350-acre farm in Indiana for natural food production, and to create a women’s center in Northern Cheyenne country designed with wind and solar energy, ground-source heating and cooling, water catchment, raised-bed gardens, passive solar greenhouse, composting and native prairie restoration. She is currently writing a book to be published by Riverhead Penguin.
Upon presentation of the award by Bridget Sperduto, Executive Director, reflected, “Marya is one of those beloved individuals who embraces both the theology and the practical, and lives a life ‘walking the talk.’ Ever hopeful, she teaches us to be more aware of gifts from the universe and remain grounded in this current time of evolutionary turmoil. The Well is pleased to honor her and her life work as the recipient of the 2017 Sacred Universe Award.”
For more information about the Sacred Universe Award and past recipients visit https://csjthewell.org/spirit-earth-award/ and to learn more about Marya Grathwohl’s work visit earthhope.org.
