By Kaitlyn Holdmeyer, Communications Manager, Region of US-Toronto
When Sr. Madeleine Munday began planning her sabbatical after 14 years of serving as province leader for the former Mid-North America Province, she knew she wanted more than rest. She was searching for a way to deepen her commitment to compassion and bring her values to life. “I was looking for a way to put my ethical veganism into action beyond what I put on my plate,” she explains.
That search led her to One Living Sanctuary (OLS) in Martinez, California, a nonprofit animal sanctuary dedicated to creating a peaceful community where all life is treated with kindness, compassion, and respect. The sanctuary’s mission integrates care for animals, environmental sustainability, education, humanitarianism, and spirituality. On the sanctuary’s 120 acres, rescued cows, horses, pigs, goats, chickens, ducks, pigeons, cats, and a turkey live free from harm and exploitation.
After discovering that the sanctuary offered live-in internships, she submitted an application that described her simply as a “Catholic sister, senior citizen, vegan, no farm experience, willing to learn and work.” The response came quickly from the founder, veterinarian Dr. Faith Albright: “You will be welcome in our community.” That welcome became the beginning of an experience that continues to shape her understanding of compassion, contemplation, and the sacred interconnectedness of all creation.
A Community Rooted in Compassion
The words “Infinite Grace” greet visitors from the gatepost of the main house, a fitting introduction to a place where every aspect of daily life is guided by reverence for life. From the moment she walked through the gate, Sr. Madeleine found herself immersed in a community she describes as “welcoming, open, safe, respectful, kind, harmonious and hard-working.»
Finding God in the Rhythm of Daily Life,
Life at OLS follows a simple but purposeful rhythm. Each day begins with a communal breakfast, where interns and staff gather to review the day’s responsibilities. From there, everyone disperses to their work: feeding animals, watering gardens, hauling water, cleaning, recycling, and maintaining the property. Delivering food to the animals is one of Sr. Madeleine’s favorite responsibilities. “They all know when it’s time to eat, and each has their own personality.»
For Sr. Madeleine, many of these tasks have become opportunities for reflection and solidarity. Preparing food buckets for dozens of animals each day connects her with the often-unseen labor of agricultural workers whose efforts bring food to tables around the world. Carrying buckets of water across the property reminds her of women in many parts of the world who perform the same task daily for their families, often traveling much farther distances. “I appreciate each drop of fresh and recycled water in this arid climatedit-elle.
Surrounded by animals, plants, and open skies, Sr. Madeleine has found a profound connection between daily work and contemplation. «Most of my work is done in solitude and much of it outside,” she reflects. “The silence and rhythm of the chores have been a gift for contemplation. Few or no words are needed. God’s creation is more than enough!»
Living at the sanctuary has also deepened Sr. Madeleine’s awareness of la responsabilité environnementale, such as witnessing how much food is discarded in the United States. “The produce we receive is discarded by stores because of an expiration date, small flaw, or sheer excess,” she says. At the sanctuary, however, nothing is wasted. Food nourishes both animals and humans, while anything left over is composted and returned to the earth.
Hope for the Future
Among the most unexpected lessons of the sabbatical have come directly from the sanctuary’s animal residents. “I have learned that the animals exist in their own right and to not have expectations of them other than their presence and freedom,” Sr. Madeleine says. “Foremost is the care and concern for each animal, that each one can live their life in peacedit-elle.
Sr. Madeleine recognizes that many of the lessons are still unfolding. She hopes to carry home a renewed commitment to spending time in nature and embracing the balance of work, rest, and reflection. Emphasizing, “Take breaks and days off!»
Amid the hills of California, surrounded by rescued animals and the beauty of the natural world, Sr. Madeleine is discovering anew what it means to live with reverence, gratitude, hope, and one act of kindness at a time.
«I am experiencing Good Shepherd values each day in tangible ways in the environment of OLS,” she says. “Compassion, sustainability, respect for all life, dignity, zeal, empowerment, advocacy, mercy, and reconciliation. Thank you, dear Region of the U.S. | Toronto, for this extraordinary gift of sabbatical!”
