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Loretto Community We work for justice and act for peace because the Gospel urges us.

10/12/2026

Sister Maria Visse shares about her time in Chile when the military took over and her resistance work in the community.

Today, we're sharing the central detail of a sampler quilt created by the SFX Sew-cialize Group which meets at the St. F...
10/12/2026

Today, we're sharing the central detail of a sampler quilt created by the SFX Sew-cialize Group which meets at the St. Francis Xavier church in Raywick, KY. They had their own quilt show this past May at the St. Joe Community Center, and as a "thank you" to St. Joe, they have made this lovely quilt to give as a gift. The sentiment of giving always seems to be a part of quilt-making and is a part of what makes quilts so very special.

We have extended hours for this exhibit so that everyone will have a chance to visit. Join us!
Today, Monday 10am - 4pm
Tuesday 10am - 7pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 7pm
Friday 10am - 4pm

Today's the day! The Loretto Heritage Center's Quilt Show will open today at 10 AM! This year, we have 80 quilts filling...
10/12/2026

Today's the day! The Loretto Heritage Center's Quilt Show will open today at 10 AM! This year, we have 80 quilts filling all available space within the museum and the adjoining Motherhouse conference room. Big thanks to all of the quilters and the owners of quilts made by others who have provided their pieces for our exhibit; we're also grateful to Donnie and Nancy Miles and friends who delivered and set up the quilt stands this week. It took a lot of helpful hands to assemble this exhibit and we look forward to a brisk week of visitors! Join us!

Loretto Justice Fellow Abril Sustaita reflects on her first month with Alamito and in the fellowship: When I first atten...
10/12/2026

Loretto Justice Fellow Abril Sustaita reflects on her first month with Alamito and in the fellowship:

When I first attended orientation, I was nervous because this is my senior year as a future social worker, and I’m also connected with Loretto. At the same time, I felt incredibly grateful to be given this opportunity and comforted by the sense that I’m not alone. I come from a proud Fronteriza family, and as a first-generation college student, there’s a lot of pressure, but also immense pride.

I’ve spent a month with Loretto, I realize I didn’t need to be afraid of starting this path. Social work is all about passion, willingness, and patience with others. It’s about letting your heart lead, staying conscious of your purpose, and understanding that obstacles and even failures are part of the growth process. I’ve learned that failing is actually precious, because it helps us become better. Revisiting the Emergent Strategy Core Principle, the one that really stands out to me is “Never a failure, always a lesson.”

Some intentions I have for my fellowship with this year are to reconnect with my community and better understand the barriers and stereotypes faced by Segundo Barrio. Since I grew up and went to school in this area, I want to raise my voice for the community, promote empowerment, and help build stronger bonds.

One experience that has shaped my commitment to social justice is crossing the border from Juárez, Mexico, to El Paso, Texas. I recognize how big a sacrifice this is. It’s scary to come to another country without knowing the language or culture, waking up at 3:00 a.m. to work or study is a challenge, but it’s also beautiful. Our parents made this effort, and it’s important to honor that sacrifice by making it all worthwhile.

Por último, estoy orgullosa de dónde vengo y jamás me avergonzaré de mis raíces. Lo
más importante es recordar siempre de dónde venimos y mantener la mirada en alto.
Estoy orgullosa de ser Juarense y Fronteriza. ¡Y esto es MUCHA LUCHA!

The Kansas Black Farmers Association (KBFA) members are descended from men and women enslaved by Kentucky planter and po...
10/09/2026

The Kansas Black Farmers Association (KBFA) members are descended from men and women enslaved by Kentucky planter and politician U.S. Representative and later Vice President Richard Mentor Johnson. They were the labor force at Johnson’s Choctaw Academy for Indians on his farm near Blue Spring and Stamping Ground, Ky. Their visit to Loretto included a day at the Choctaw Academy location.

Freed at the end of 1865, these ancestors determined to leave Kentucky in 1877, as reconstruction soured into Jim Crow violence. They were among the first settlers in Nicodemus, the first all-Black town in Kansas and the oldest all-African American town west of the Mississippi River.

The visit crowned a three-year friendship between KBFA and the Loretto Land Justice Committee. Two years ago, the Loretto group traveled to Nicodemus National Historic Site for the 147th annual picnic. In 2027 Loretto will again be a proud participant in celebrating the founding of Nicodemus at the 150th Homecoming/Emancipation Day.

https://www.lorettocommunity.org/lorettos-land-ethic-care-of-land-and-its-many-human-relationships/

(Photos by Neil Tucker CoL)

Special visitors arrived at Loretto Motherhouse on Sept. 20 from the town of Nicodemus in northwest Kansas. Nine women f...
10/08/2026

Special visitors arrived at Loretto Motherhouse on Sept. 20 from the town of Nicodemus in northwest Kansas.

Nine women from one extended family traveled to Loretto to explore how their history overlaps Loretto’s history with both enslavement of Black people and operation of Indian boarding schools. Organized today as the Kansas Black Farmers Association, the group also shares Loretto’s keen interest in regenerative agriculture.

Hear the presentation of their history and work below, given at Loretto on Sept. 20: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmroKqFme5A

https://www.lorettocommunity.org/lorettos-land-ethic-care-of-land-and-its-many-human-relationships/

The Sisters of Loretto, who started their Texas mission in San Elizario, more than 100 years ago, had been given some la...
10/07/2026

The Sisters of Loretto, who started their Texas mission in San Elizario, more than 100 years ago, had been given some land there. Recently, because of Loretto’s commitment to land justice, Loretto Sisters Kathleen Corbett, Mary Margaret Murphy and Buffy Boesen were invited to meet Juan Valadez and Ramon Olivares. They were totally amazed by what they saw and learned and were deeply moved by Juan and Ramon’s commitment to respect the land and their compassionate care for those experiencing food scarcity. Juan and Ramon said they want to eventually have 10 acres of land, beginning with two acres and gradually increasing the acreage. Loretto has committed to help expand Juan’s and Ramon’s access to 10 acres as they continue to develop the various phases of their master plan.

Juan’s and Ramon’s decision to begin with a fruit orchard was intentional and strategic. An orchard represents one of the most sustainable and cost-effective agricultural systems for the El Paso desert environment. Fruit trees require a single establishment investment and can produce food for many years with relatively low operating costs compared to annual crops.

Their long-term vision includes a multi-system sustainable food production model, where different systems support each other. Future potential phases may include the following phases:

Phase 1 – Fruit Orchard (proposal for two acres): Planting drought-resistant fruit trees to establish long range long-term food production,
Phase 2 – Aquaculture (tilapia production by authorization): Fish production can generate both food and natural fertilizer through nutrient-rich water.
Phase 3 – Integrated Food System: Organic composting, vegetable production and additional drought-adapted crops.

The organization’s philosophy is based on a closed-loop agricultural system, where the output or by-products of one system help sustain another. For example, nutrients from aquaculture can be used to support plant growth, minimizing waste and maximizing productivity. The orchard is the first and most important step, and they are committed to implementing it responsibly before expanding further.

https://www.lorettocommunity.org/lorettos-land-ethic-care-of-land-and-its-many-human-relationships/

(The signing of a two-year lease agreement between Loretto and Seeds by Canela. From left, clockwise, Mary Margaret Murphy, Juan Valadez, Gustavo Blanco, Buffy Boesen and Kathleen Corbett. Photo by Ramon Olivares)

Loretto Land Justice Beginnings in San Elizario: Juan Valadez and Ramon Olivares recently started the non-profit Seeds B...
10/06/2026

Loretto Land Justice Beginnings in San Elizario: Juan Valadez and Ramon Olivares recently started the non-profit Seeds By Canela. Valadez and Olivares are both veterans who witnessed hunger in many parts of the world during their military service.

Said the pair, “As veterans, this mission is deeply personal to us, and we are committed to approaching it with care, transparency and respect for the land and the community. Our goal is to create a sustainable, community-focused food system that addresses food insecurity while promoting environmental stewardship, education and service. As veterans, we feel called to teach, guide and feed those in need, while serving as role models in our communities and across the nation. We are committed to ensuring that the kind of hunger we once saw elsewhere does not take root and grow within our own communities.”

Valadez and Olivares started by studying what kinds of plants and trees flourish in areas throughout the world that have similar climates and drought conditions as San Elizario, Texas, which is where they settled after returning home. They have access to a quarter of an acre of land that they used to experiment with the seeds and trees they were learning about. They planted herbs and learned which ones could be used in lieu of pesticides and use all natural fertilizer and watering techniques that reduce the water needed.

Come back tomorrow to learn how Loretto and Valadez and Olivares connected!

https://www.lorettocommunity.org/lorettos-land-ethic-care-of-land-and-its-many-human-relationships/


(A tree cutting grows roots on a branch cut from the parent tree. The roots are then planted for another quality tree. Photo: Juan Valadez)

As Friends of Mary at the Foot of the Cross, we are called to care for Earth in its pain, to celebrate its beauty and to...
10/05/2026

As Friends of Mary at the Foot of the Cross, we are called to care for Earth in its pain, to celebrate its beauty and to create space for its healing. Land is our common heritage, owned by no one, responsibly tended and cared for by multiple generations of diverse peoples. Those responsible for land at any particular time should regard it as a sacred trust received with gratitude, tended with care for its integrity, long-term sustainability and historic connections with peoples now systemically dispossessed from lands.

We in the Loretto Community understand that our mission to work for justice and act for peace must include care of the land, including its many human relationships which are entrusted to us. We therefore commit ourselves to tend the land with respect for its integrity, conscious of:

- The capacity of land to be a sacrament of God’s beauty and goodness, reflecting God’s creativity and bounty in myriad, interdependent life forms.
- The necessity to recognize our human dependence upon the larger whole, and to tend the land in such a way that all life is enhanced and protected.

Read the rest of Loretto’s land ethic here: https://www.lorettocommunity.org/landethic/

(Cody Rakes discusses Loretto Motherhouse Farm conservation practices during a farmer field day. Photo: Angela Rakes)

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430 Academy Lane
Nerinx, KY
40049

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