Nature and Faith: Restoring Creation through Youth Projects
“Dear young people, do not bury your talents, the gifts that God has given you! Do not be afraid to dream of great things!” This quote, spoken by Pope Francis, is one of many inspirational messages spoken by popes, clergy, and Catholic influencers to inspire young people to use their gifts and talents to lift up the body of Christ. Today, we are sharing a story about the efforts of Sydney Machion, a young woman and recent high school graduate, who truly embodies this concept.
Sydney is both a lover of nature and a person of faith, and she has been using both of these gifts to take action throughout her life. When she was little, Sydney fell in love with nature when she and her family would vacation in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park each year. As she got older, she became more involved in her community through her Catholic school where she helped design an outdoor classroom complete with native plants. She also worked with the U.S. Green Building Council, where she served on a panel of five other women discussing green conservation efforts.
Sydney has been a member of the Girl Scouts for the past thirteen years. During this time, she has received the bronze, silver, and gold awards, the highest awards that a scout can receive at each level. Receiving all three of these awards officially makes her a Trifecta Scout. As Sydney was nearing the end of her high school career, she was searching for a project idea for her final Girl Scout Project. It was at this point she found the Saint Kateri Conservation Center. “When I found the Center on Instagram, I thought to myself, this is divine providence. I was thinking, I want to find a way to make a difference, but I don’t know where to start.” After researching more about the Center, Sydney once again combined both her faith and love of nature by creating a Saint Kateri Habitat on the grounds of her home parish, Saint Benedict Parish, in Mohnton, Pennsylvania, for her final Scout Project.
A member of the Parish Garden Club, Sydney began the project by approaching the Pastor and the grounds keeper to identify a suitable spot for the habitat. She chose a place next to the parish vegetable garden, and then began planning the design and species of plants she would use. “I love pollinator gardens, because they’re easy to create and not difficult to maintain,” she said. Sydney also remarks that native plants are colorful and pleasing to the eye.
“We have a duty as Catholics and people of faith to take care of what God has given us. There’s no planet B, and we have the ability to take care of what we have now. He didn’t put us on this earth to destroy the Earth, but to take care of it.”
The finished garden consists of a beautiful statue of Saint Kateri at the center, surrounded by several species of native plants, including salvia, garden sage, coreopsis, milkweed, bee balm, black eyed Susans, cone flowers, goldenrod, and stone crop. The plants are placed close together to crowd out weeds and make the most of the space.This garden is now a part of a larger effort to transition the parish grounds to planting more native and perennial plants throughout the campus. In addition to creating the garden, Sydney has also created a pamphlet describing her process, the importance of pollinators, and how parishioners at St. Benedict can create their own habitat.
As for Sydney, now that her project is completed and the summer is soon coming to a close, she will continue to use her gifts to care for creation; this fall, Sydney will begin her freshman year at West Virginia University as a Wildlife and Fisheries Resources major. “We have a duty as Catholics and people of faith to take care of what God has given us. There’s no planet B, and we have the ability to take care of what we have now. He didn’t put us on this earth to destroy the Earth, but to take care of it.”
Thank you, Sydney, for being a part of the Center’s Saint Kateri Habitat Program and for serving as an inspiration for all of us!
