Bellavista: A sustainable reconstruction, Laudato si style

Pablo Vidal

The reality of climate change was evident in Schoenstatt. After violent winds and atypical rain, the Bellavista Shrine in Chile reverted to a scenario similar to that of its beginnings: a land to be conquered and a shrine to be rebuilt.

Although the presence of God and Mary in this, the common home, has remained intact during its 75 years, the planet has changed, experiencing climate changes, with extreme droughts, flooding cities, devastating tornadoes and a great global warming that already impacts life and the people who inhabit it.

This is what Pope Francis reminded us once more in his 2023 apostolic exhortation Laudate deum: “Despite all attempts to deny, conceal, gloss over or relativize the issue, the signs of climate change are here and increasingly evident” (LD5). The weather changes are becoming visible, and on this occasion, it has been our turn to experience them.

But we know that nothing happens by chance. It is symbolic that the Mission Shrine of May 31st is a sign of the consequences of the times, times of economic, social and environmental challenges. Because the challenges are not only environmental, but as the Pope himself told us in his encyclical Laudato si: “We are faced not with two separate crises, one environmental and the other social, but rather with one complex crisis which is both social and environmental. Strategies for a solution demand an integrated approach to combating poverty, restoring dignity to the excluded, and at the same time protecting nature” (139)

It was in this “listening” to the voice of God that the idea of incorporating a Laudato Si approach or a sustainable approach to this reconstruction arose.

Beyond environmental, a sustainable reconstruction

Our Founder reminded us countless times that what our time needs most is new women and men, authentic Christians, who respond to the demands of the times and so we decided that this restoration should also be a symbol of inspiration and a response to the economic, social and environmental challenges of our time, along the lines of Father Kentenich’s desire and according to what the Church is asking of us today.

This is how Bellavista Tu hogar, with the Institute of the Sisters of Mary and an interdisciplinary group of Schoenstatters, are giving a sustainable imprint to Bellavista’s transformation project. “This project will be a long-range undertaking, and Sustainability is part of our approach. In the first step of the Shrine’s reconstruction, it seems important to us to design and develop the project at the service of the people, to care for and enhance the surrounding oasis of nature so that it contributes to the encounter with grace, and to seek ways of financing so as to maintain our Shrine and its mission over time,” said Sister Josefa María Fuentes, coordinator of Bellavista Tu Hogar.

Objectives and 14 Sustainable Actions

To move forward, three major objectives were agreed upon regarding economic, social and environmental matters, which, after an arduous process of reflection, were defined in 14 measures that reflect the goals we hope to achieve.

Sustainable objectives

A. Environmental: A Shrine that shows care for creation and protection of the environment.
B. Social: A Shrine that is a sign of inclusion, good neighborliness and open to all, without distinction.
C. Economic: A process that reflects transparency and equitable distribution for all involved.

14 sustainable actions

Environmental Actions

1. Sustainable landscaping: We will strengthen landscaping with native flora from central Chile and species that are resilient to climate change and low in water consumption.

2. Carbon neutral: We will attempt to measure the carbon footprint of the project and strive to neutralize it.

3. Renewable energy: We will explore the production of photovoltaic renewable energy to supply the Shrine’s energy requirements.

4. Low water footprint: We will rethink the irrigation system to incorporate greater efficiency and less water waste.

5. Low-impact lighting: We will explore a new lighting system that has a low impact on people and biodiversity.

6. Sustainable construction: We will try, together with the contracted companies, to use materials with sustainable certification and low environmental impact, and to favor local contracting.

7. Laudato si culture: We will try to implement features that promote lifestyles aligned with Pope Francis’ encyclical, such as clean spots, bicycle racks and others.

Social actions

8. Universal accessibility: We will try to integrate the highest standards of universal accessibility in the project, ensuring that every decision will allow everyone to enjoy the space without barriers.

9. Good neighborliness: We will explore ways to involve the Shrine’s neighbors and the surrounding community in this crusade, fostering an open dialogue about safety and participation, while minimizing disruption during construction.

10. Pedagogical-sensorial space: We will try to incorporate some elements that, in tune with the master plan, complement the spiritual experience with the promotion of the care of the common house, striving to perceive nature and spirituality through the senses.

11. Synodality and participation: We will encourage the members of the family living in the Cenacle to participate and collaborate, weaving a network of support and solidarity.

12. Sustainable communication: We will seek to incorporate sustainable and inclusive signage, clearly defining how sustainable contributions will be communicated to pilgrims, using accepted frameworks and standards that highlight the importance of each contribution.

Economic Actions

13. Economic transparency: We will promote transparency in the collection and use of resources, prioritizing the expansion of economic value, distributed among stakeholders, such as workers, suppliers and contractors, strengthening trust and relationships among all.

14. Sustainable investment: We will seek to attract corporate contributions that align with the sustainable attributes of the Shrine’s reconstruction, promoting an approach that not only benefits the project, but also has a positive impact in the community and the environment.

    Source: Vinculo Magazine, n. 387, December 2024.

    Translation: Maribel Acaron

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