Catching up with Victory Noll Sisters Small Grant recipients from years past

For several years, Catholic Climate Covenant has been blessed to offer small grants to Catholic groups for creation care. These small grants, provided through the Victory Noll Sisters small grants program, have supported projects, programs, and events across U.S. Catholic communities that advance the spirit of Laudato Si’ and promoted diocesan, parish, and religious order Laudato Si’ and creation care activity across the U.S.

The Covenant recently reached out to small grant recipients from years past to learn more about the progress made on their creation care projects. Several of these grant recipients shared their stories with us. 

The Sisters of St. Joseph | Baden, Pennsylvania

In 2022, Lisa Vesolich, the Development Manager for the Sisters of St. Joseph in Baden, Pennsylvania, had a great idea.

“Picture this,” Vesolich said. “The vibrant pulse of our Earth Day Celebration echoing through the Motherhouse grounds of the Sisters of St. Joseph, filling the air with hope, joy, and a renewed commitment to our planet. Rooted in the Charism of the Sisters of St. Joseph — God’s Unifying Love — we’re extending that love and care to our common home, Earth.”

Vesolich and the Sisters of St. Joseph envisioned an Earth Day Celebration that would not only educate, but inspire — that would not only entertain, but transform hearts and minds.

“Our quest for funding from the Victory Noll Sisters Small Grant through Catholic Climate Covenant wasn’t just about securing dollars; it was about investing in a vision — a vision of a world where every step we take is a dance of gratitude upon the sacred earth,” Vesolich said. 

In the summer of 2022, the Sisters of St. Joseph received a $1,000 grant to make their annual Earth Day event bigger and better than ever before. 

“In 2022, the winds of change swept our way in the form of a $1,000 Victory Noll Sisters Grant from Catholic Climate Covenant — a beacon of hope that fueled our passion and propelled us forward on our mission to make a difference,” Vesolich said. “The 2022 Earth Day Event was a resounding success! Thanks to the support of Catholic Climate Covenant, we were able to welcome over 300 children and adults to our Motherhouse grounds for a day filled with activities aimed at promoting environmental stewardship and sustainability.”

But the success of the Earth Day event didn’t end in 2022.

“Fast forward to April 20, 2024 — the day our dreams soared higher than ever before,” Vesolich said. “Our Earth Day Celebration wasn’t just an event; it was a symphony of resilience, a tapestry of unity, and a testament to the unstoppable power of community. We saw over 500 guests visit our grounds, learn about environmental issues and causes, and connect with our mission to serve God and our dear neighbors, including creation and our one and only Earth.”

Vesolich said the boost from the 2022 Victory Noll Sisters small grant made the next annual Earth Day events an even bigger success. 

“The funds used from Catholic Climate Covenant in 2022 drove us into perpetually growing and thriving Earth Day celebrations in 2023 and 2024,” Vesolich said. “Step into our most recent Earth Day’s virtual gallery and experience the enchantment firsthand: live bluegrass melodies soothing the soul, tantalizing aromas from Papa Dukes and Típicos Monroy food trucks teasing your taste buds, bespoke Earth Day beverages from Merchant Coffee, and a host of nonprofit organizations dedicated to preserving our planet and supporting our communities. Laughter and joy permeate the atmosphere like strands of pure bliss. Each photograph serves as a testament to the cascading impact of love and stewardship for our precious planet, propelled by the unifying power of divine love.”

Vesolich and the Sisters of St. Joseph hope that each annual Earth Day event is more successful than the last. 

“As we stand on the shoulders of giants like Catholic Climate Covenant, we’re reminded that the journey to a sustainable future is not a solitary one — it’s a collective pilgrimage of the heart, a sacred dance of co-creation with the earth herself, guided by the Charism of the Sisters of St. Joseph,” Vesolich said. “Together, let’s continue to nurture this flame of hope. Let’s continue to dream, to inspire, and to ignite change — one Earth Day Celebration at a time. For in the end, it’s not just about saving the planet; it’s about rediscovering our place within the intricate web of life and realizing that the power to heal and transform lies within each and every one of us, fueled by God’s Unifying Love.”