Sister Stories

Rita Robl, ASC
Working Together to Care for Earth

Helping people see the connection between caring for earth and caring for each other is a way that Adorers of the Blood of Christ, as educators, instill the message of God’s love for all creation.

After 34 years as a teacher and principal, and 13 years as a Spiritual Director, one educator, S. Rita Robl, ASC felt a stronger calling to care for earth. Blending ecology and spirituality, she made changes within herself, thus leading to a new ministry.

After researching the Northwest Earth Institute in Portland, Oregon, S. Rita and Kathy Miller cofounded its first sister institute, Great Plains Earth Institute, in Wichita, Kansas in 1997. GPEI is a non-profit, grassroots educational organization that seeks spiritually integrated solutions to ecological challenges through transformational experiences.

GPEI sponsors environmental retreats and offers individual spiritual direction. Six different discussion courses are available concerning voluntary simplicity, deep ecology, sustainability, global warming, healthy planet/healthy children and natural goods. The organization has an extensive VHS/DVD library and shares films with the public once a month. Community gardens have been developed throughout various parts of Wichita, providing food, building community and reducing the use of fossil fuels for shipping produce to grocery stores.

“I love earth and nature, and I get energized about it,” Sister Rita says. “It compels me to do what we can to save what we have.” It is a spiritual issue for me; something I can’t not do.”