Become "Healing Hands" at Work in the World of Nature

We actively recruit volunteers to help us with our work at the Headwaters.  Why might we do this?

We recruit and involve people from the community at the Headwaters because we want to heal this piece of the Earth entrusted to our care, and that takes many hands.  

We work to remove trash and other unwanted debris.  We work to eradicate invasive species in order to "liberate" our native biodiversity.  We work to restore ecological health to the land and waters.  We work to protect historic and prehistoric remains in this favored place of peoples for tens of thousands of years.  We work to build and maintain trails so people can get out in the woods and enjoy quiet moments in nature.  

And we work to educate, to share the many stories from this land with our visitors:  stories about the Edwards Aquifer and its "Great Springs;" stories about the ecology and hydrology of the area; stories about the native peoples, Spanish missionaries, early settlers, Incarnate Word Sisters, and present day city dwellers and their relationships with this place; and stories about the sacredness of this place to many people of different faiths and spiritual practices.  

We work at the Headwaters in many different ways, and while we’re at it, we hope to foster a deeper environmental ethic in ourselves as well as our neighbors.  

We want this ministry of the Incarnate Word Sisters to be ‘a presence of healing love in the world’ and to extend this healing love to the wounds of the Earth – here at the Head of the San Antonio River and on whatever other piece of the Earth we may happen to find ourselves.  Because in the grand scheme of things, we see that problems of poverty, oppression, disease and deprivation in human communities are often, at their root, environmental problems:  dirty water, dirty air, toxic, eroded land, oil wars, loss of forests, elimination of species … These and many other environmental problems lead to less than dignified lives for many humans, and even to death. 

There is abundant evidence that not just her peoples but the Earth itself is crying out for ‘relief at our hands.’  And we must respond.

We are so fortunate that the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word perceive this work of the Headwaters ministry as a natural extension of their incarnational spirituality – to be God’s healing hands at work in the world, including the world of nature, the Creation, God’s incarnation, our Earthly home.

Won't you join us in becoming "healing hands at work in the world"?

The next Headwaters Volunteer Work Day is Saturday, January 22 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.  Those interested in volunteering should contact the Headwaters office to sign up. (210-828-2224 ext. 232)  A light lunch will be served after the work session. Volunteers should dress appropriately for the weather and woods, and are welcome to invite friends and family.

For information about upcoming volunteer work days and events, check out the Headwaters website.