CSA Welcomes Four New Associates
September 29, 2022
On September 25 at 2:00 pm, the Congregation of St. Agnes and their Associates celebrated the formal commitment of four new Associates. The private ceremony took place in the CSA Mother house Chapel, where a small group of sisters and associate leaders celebrated with as Jane Langenecker, Joanne Sheridan, John Hammond, and Kelsey Beine as they made their First Commitment.
All are invited to find out more about what it means to enter into an associate relationship with CSA. For more information, please contact Sister Mary Noel Brown at mnbrown@csasisters.org.
Photos of the event are forthcoming.
Stop Trafficking Newsletter - September 2022 Issue
September 23, 2022
Meeting an Endangered Pollinator (and her friends)
August 23, 2022
On Saturday, August 20, a small crowd gathered in the CSA prairie for the "Meet the Pollinators" event to hear from Jay Watson, a Wisconsin DNR Conservation Biologist. The event was coordinated by Glacial Lakes Conservancy as part of Wisconsin's Land Trust Days.
During their event, the group enjoyed learning about many beautiful pollinators and plants, including the starting off the day with a sighting of one beautiful endangered female Rusty Patched Bumble Bee. The Rusty Patched Bumble Bee is listed as Federally Endangered and State Special Concern, is extremely rare in Wisconsin, and is considered both state- and globally-imperiled. In total, the group observed at least 8 species of bumble bees- affinis, rufocinctus, griseocollis, fervidus, auricomus, vagans, impatiens, and citrinus.
"This is a new location for Rusty Patch Bumble Bee in state," said Watson. "Having the Ledge provides great nesting area in the woody zones and a wonderful mix of resources throughout all of the seasons in the prairies and wetlands close by." In addition to the female spotted during the event, two males (one pictured above) were also identified earlier the previous week. The closest other area where they are found regularly is Oakfield Ledge State Natural Area, which is more than 20 miles away, indicating that the group seen on CSA property is likely its own nest.
In addition to bumble bees, the group also learned about the values and benefits provided by wasps, hornets, goldenrod solider beetles, moths, fritillaries, and butterflies, and the plants that allow them to thrive and create a healthy ecosystem.
CSA property is privately owned. Our solar site is open for public viewing any day of the week from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. We request that visitors stop at the main entrance to sign-in or call 920-907-2300 prior to touring the array. Tours of the remaining portions of the CSA conservation easement must be scheduled in advance.
Fond du Lac Sisters and Associates Help Local Students
August 19, 2022
From July 5 to August 5, the CSA Motherhouse served as a drop off point for back to school supplies. Sisters, Associates, and Staff brought in numerous materials to donate to the Fond du Lac Back to School community-wide collaboration. "Back to School FDL" equips more than 1200 students with the school supplies they need to start off the school year right.
Donations were delivered for sorting in early August and this weekend several sisters and associates are volunteering as part of the distribution efforts.
Eastern Wisconsin Kestrel Project
August 03, 2022
Jennifer Rutten, Director of Glacial Lakes Conservancy, contacted CSA regarding a program being conducted by Danny Erickson of the Cedar Grove Ornithological Research Station asking if we would be willing to assist with an ongoing Kestrel project.
According to the Cedar Grove proposal:
American Kestrels (Falco sparverius) are a widespread raptor in North America, but recent trends show a population decline (Smallwood et al. 2009, Sauer et al. 2013, McClure et al. 2017), prompting many studies on this decline. Kestrels may be experiencing different threats at regional and local scales (McClure et al. 2017 and Ruegg et al. 2021), and research is lacking for eastern Wisconsin. Kestrels use natural cavities in trees in open areas for nesting, but a shortage of suitable nesting habitat may be a contributing factor to declines of this species (McClure et al. 2017). To aid this species, many nest box monitoring programs across North America have been created. Kestrels are cavity-nesters that readily adapt to human-made nest boxes (Smallwood 2009 and Smallwood and Bird 2020), making observing Kestrel reproduction relatively simple. Kestrels are highly tolerant to nesting site disturbance, handling, and individual capture and marking by researchers (Smallwood 2009).
This study aims to better understand Kestrel population trends in eastern Wisconsin through banding effort and nest box surveys. We will observe nest box occupancy, productivity, and juvenile dispersal as well as the wintering habitat use of this population. We aim to generate Kestrel nesting data to connect to broader monitoring programs across the hemisphere. Understanding these relationships will enable a more complete picture of the American Kestrel’s life history and provide information to support conservation of Kestrel habitat and populations.
The opportunity to assist with this kind of project is in line with our Corporate Stance on Care for Creation and our commitment to the tenets of Laudato Si'. The program will be monitored by Danny Erickson from the Cedar Grove Ornithological Research Station but will provide opportunities for CSA as well as potential collaboration with school-age groups when the possibility arises. Two bird boxes placed on poles were installed on August 3, 2022—one on the Ledge and one in a western corner near highway 151. Hopefully, we will attract some Kestrels and add to the scientific data while assisting with the goal of bringing the population back to health.
Stop Trafficking Newsletter - August 2022 Issue
August 01, 2022
This month we look again at the human trafficking and child and forced labor behind the food on our table.
Click here to read the August 2022 newsletter.
Este mes volvemos a mirar la trata de personas y el trabajo infantil y forzoso detrás de la comida en nuestra mesa.
Haga clic aquí para leer el boletín de agusto de 2022.
USCSAHT Human Trafficking Conference
July 28, 2022
The UN's theme this year for World Day Against Trafficking in Persons is "Use and Abuse of Technology". The increase in technology use has led to traffickers utilizing it as a means to groom, recruit, and control trafficking victims and conduct their operations in a more anonymous manner.
However, technology can combat trafficking by allowing people to work together with the shared vision of ending human trafficking. U.S. Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking (USCSAHT) is made up of over 100 congregations, coalitions, and individual members, and is supported by hundreds of dedicated supporters that believe in the same vision: a world without slavery with a network of services and resources to inform the public, prevent the crime and assist survivors to achieve a fulfilling life.
The annual USCSAHT Human Trafficking Conference affords members and guests an opportunity to reconnect with friends and colleagues, to share ideas, to exchange information, and to learn more about human trafficking. The conference will take place this October 26-28th in St. Louis, MO and will feature talks and breakout sessions including: the Demand for Sex and Labor Trafficking, LGBTQ+ and Human Trafficking, Men's Role in Trafficking, Cybersafety, Familial Trafficking, The Consumer's Role in Trafficking, Migrants/Refugees and Trafficking, Direct Support Services, the Equality Model and more.
Keynote Speakers and Presenters include: Dr. Mandy Sanchez (World Without Exploitation), Lina Nealon (National Center on Sexual Exploitation), Terry Coonan (Florida State University), Russ Tuttle (STOP Trafficking Program), Sr. Anne Victory (HM), Peter Quillotine, Theresa Flores, Dr. Kim Hogan (The University of Southern Mississippi State), HEAL Trafficking, Alicia Cohen, Survivors of Human Trafficking and many more.
Two Conference Options:
In Person or On Demand
*Note: video recordings will be available to paid participants for a limited time following the conference.
Click here to learn more or register
Joining in Prayer for the Sisters of Charity of Mother Teresa of Calcutta
July 06, 2022
On June 29, CONFER Nicaragua received the news of the Nicaraguan government's cancellation of the legal status of the Sisters of Charity of Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me. Matthew 25: 40
As Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life (CONFER), we thank the Sisters of Charity of Mother Teresa of Calcutta for their years of loving service to the little ones in our beloved Nicaragua. We are grateful for the opportunity to have been close to them and to be able to accompany them during the painful process of cancellation of their Association and departure from the country, it hurts us that such a valuable member of CONFER suffers in this way, but trusting in Jesus we are certain that after the cross comes the Resurrection. We will continue to accompany them with our prayers. May God bless each one of them and may the power of the Holy Spirit enlighten them on this new path.
Managua, July 5, 2022
Board of Directors of Major Superiors and permanent delegates.
