12. Sister Mary Tacheny, devoted to rural relationships and the greater Earth

Sustainable Agriculture Policy with Ron Kroese

During the farm crisis of the 1980s, Sister Mary Tacheny returned to her farming roots, helping the church respond during a difficult time. She knew where she was needed, working with rural leaders on policy as well as assisting farmers directly.

This week, Sister Mary tells Ron about growing up on a small dairy farm southeast of Mankato, Minnesota, where she and her siblings went with her parents each Sunday to check the fields. She talks about her years working with farmers and rural leaders as well as creating the Center for Earth Spirituality.

Sister Mary is a School Sister of Notre Dame of the Mankato, Minnesota, campus of the Central Pacific Province. Her family continues to farm the land where she grew up.

After 28 years as a secondary teacher and administrator, Sister Mary became the educational consultant to the Minnesota Catholic Bishops and their Rural Life Directors. Her task was to help the church respond to the crisis farmers were experiencing in the early ‘80s when the banks and other lending institutions were foreclosing on mortgages and farmers were losing their farms. It was a time to unite people and support one another, to work toward solutions together. This became sister's passion for the next 25 years.

In 1996, Sister Mary helped establish the Center for Earth Spirituality and Rural Ministry, now the Living Earth Center, to bring together people who were passionate about ecological solidarity and enhancing right relationships between each other, the local community, and the greater Earth. Starting first as a small community garden and advocacy group, Living Earth Center grew to be a network of gardeners, volunteers, and advocates.

Sister Mary celebrated 75 years of service as a School Sister in 2020. At that time, she continued to be an active member of the School Sisters of Notre Dame Earth Committee championing the Living Earth Center.

The interview was conducted on Nov. 24, 2015.

Links this episode:
National Sustainable Agriculture Oral History Archive (video link)
Living Earth Center (formerly Center for Earth Spirituality and Rural Ministry)
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