The Sisters of Our Lady of Missions, my congregation, was one of the many 19th century congregations founded to involve Catholic sisters in a subordinate capacity in assisting bishops and priests in their task of planting the Catholic church where it had not yet been planted – plantatio ecclesiae. The Sisters’ contribution usually involved them in works of charity –education, nursing, care of orphans and disabled – thereby fulfilling their biologically-determined role of caring and nurturing.

But by the mid-20th century in much of the Western world, governments had often taken over responsibility for such works, while the ever-decreasing number of vocations to religious life saw fewer Catholic sisters engaged in such tasks.

But a new missionary imperative was emerging – care of the environment. While this imperative is not always identified as a matter of urgency by many episcopal conferences despite Francis’ wonderful 2015 encyclical Laudato Si’, Sisters have seen it as important. Many have joined with others in in action on behalf of an exploited environment.

I live in New Zealand, a decidedly secular country where more than half the population now officially identify themselves as having “no religion”. I am involved in local community programmes such as weed-eradication and predator-control, both of which have as their aim protection of endangered indigenous flora and fauna, so threatened by exotic species introduced by 19th century English settlers, and then “accidentally” from the 20th century onwards.

Most New Zealanders live in relatively close proximity to nature. I find when I go out with neighbours to clear weeds, or to a workshop on how to more effectively trap predators, there is something analogous to a religious atmosphere. These meetings, usually held on Sundays, begin with a general reporting back on what has happened since the last meeting. Then there is input from someone with particular knowledge that would help all gathered. Those gathered respond to this with questions for clarification or add their own insights. A shared morning tea, lunch or afternoon tea follow after which people go forth refreshed to continue their task of caring for creation with renewed commitment.

This structure follows that of a Sunday Eucharist in the Catholic tradition, and I must admit to occasionally finding such gatherings more life-giving than a parish Sunday Mass!!

I am struck by the unconscious religious quality characteristic of these conversations. People talk of feeling something mysterious/spiritual about their experience of being close to nature, of being aware of something greater than themselves at work, of recognising that they are working collaboratively to ensure that the rights of nature are respected and honoured. The fruits of their labours may not appear immediately but there is an awareness they are not just doing this for themselves but for future generations. It is an exciting way to be missionary in an environmentally threatened world.