By Abby Knox, Staff Writer

On Thursday, as part of a series called “Eco Grief: Love, Loss and Lament,” the Brueggeman Center for Dialogue and Clocktower Review co-hosted an event where faculty, students and alumni gathered to listen to poetry. 

The Brueggeman Center launched their year-long program in the fall on the theme of ecological grief. This program was started in response to the call to action on climate change made by Pope Francis in his encyclical Laudato Si’, which was published in 2023.

The poetry that was read at this event spoke on issues ranging from trash in oceans and the fires devastating California to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

The room where this reading was held was one of warmth, reflection and community. Snacks including crackers, cheese and grapes, as well as the warm candle lighting, transformed the space into a place where feelings could be expressed through poetry. 

“The students created an intimate opportunity to sit with and tend to the existential crises of climate change. Rather than rush to answers or jump too quickly into action, this event recognized the need not only to grieve individually, but the need to grieve in community,” theology professor Dr. O’neil Van Horn said. “I applaud the students’ effort to intentionally gather in this way, and I hope that others will follow their lead to generate a more robust and creative intellectual community on campus. This work is always important, but it is even more so now.”  

The poems read included those written by the readers themselves or published works that the readers held close to their hearts. The readers were able to express their opinions and feelings in their own individualized ways through the words they chose. The silence that came following the reading of each poem allowed for listeners to breathe, take a minute to be quiet and let the words sink in.

 “I drew my inspiration from maternal relationships and how it influences how I view the land as well as how that relates to personal experience,” one reader and recent Xavier alumna Laney Konz said. Her poem, “Naturalization to Mother,” spoke on maternal care being found through earth.

Prior to the poetry reading, other events have been held for the Eco Grief program, including art exhibits, poetry workshops and more.

“Eco grief is a really beautiful theme, especially given how people may feel about certain things happening in the country right now. It’s a good experience for people to read poetry and talk about things they feel passionate about,” said recent Xavier alumnus Jesse Dolojan.

There is an upcoming prayer service being held as part of the Eco Grief series outside of the Brueggeman Center on Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. with the goal of creating a more environmentally- conscious community and world. 

Xavier’s Clocktower Review, a student-run club that features and showcases original poetry, prose, and artwork of all kinds as made by students plans to release a collection of student art under the same theme of “Eco Grief: Love, Loss and Lament” later this semester.