Clarisas nuns in Rome drive solar energy plant inspired by laudato si ‘

The monastery of Santa Clara in Via Vitellia, Rome (Italy), has become an example of how contemplative life can also offer answers to the challenge of creation care.

The Clarisas nuns have installed on the roof of their convent a solar energy plant of 70 kilowatts hour that will not only supply their community, but also benefit 24 neighboring families. This autumn is expected to be operated.

The initiative was born after a community course on the encyclical Laudato yes of Pope Francis. “When the encyclical was published, we feel the need to train and discern together how to live it from our closure. Hence the idea of ​​installing a photovoltaic system. It is our little contribution, a seed to try to advance in this path,” News told Mother Elena Francesca, Abadesa del Convento.

The technical work was in charge of sister Marta Maddalena, an engineer with five years of experience in the sector before entering religious life. She explained that the system will reduce fossil fuel dependence and offer participating households a saving in their electricity bills.

“Getting to eliminate the energy of fossil fuels will still take years, but little by little we can advance. This plant is a step in that direction. In addition to the environmental benefit, the neighbors will have greater energy independence and see a reduction in their invoices,” he said.

The cost of the project, which amounts to about 170 thousand dollars, will be covered largely by the religious themselves, with small collaborations of the beneficiary neighbors. “We do not have great funds, but we feel that God asked us for this effort. With confidence and with the help of those who joined the project, we believe it will be possible,” said Mother Elena.

For closing nuns, the link with nature has a unique spiritual value. “We live in Clausura and our world is what we contemplate from the window. We have a great garden, thank God, and we appreciate it even more by having only that in front of our eyes. That only tree becomes a friend who accompanies us all life,” said the abbess.

The initiative has also generated a closer relationship between the monastery and the neighbors. “Through the bars, we have been able to dialogue with them and share this proposal. What began as a technical idea became a friendship. Today they are no longer only beneficiaries: they are companions on the way,” said Mother Elena.

With this project, Rome’s clarisians wish to testify that even from contemplative life you can contribute to the ecological conversion that the Church asks. “The closure does not contain us in ourselves. From here we want to praise God, take care of its creation and open ourselves to the world in a new way,” concluded the abbess.