Associate Julia Gerwe Nicholson recently shared a reflection in The Record, the newspaper of the Archdiocese of Louisville, about how care for creation can begin with something simple. A shared meal with neighbors.
In her editorial, Julia describes a weekly gathering in Springfield, Kentucky, where the local Rotary Club meets for lunch at the public library. What might appear to be a routine meeting has become something deeper. People gather to eat, discuss community projects and listen to speakers from across the region.
For Julia, the experience points to a truth about community life in rural Kentucky. Relationships often grow through everyday encounters. Church picnics, local cookouts and shared tables bring neighbors together. Over time those connections build trust and responsibility for one another and for the land they share.
Julia serves as executive director of New Pioneers for a Sustainable Future, a nonprofit that promotes sustainability through education and advocacy across Nelson, Marion and Washington counties in central Kentucky. The organization works with residents, farmers and community leaders to encourage practices that protect natural resources and strengthen local communities.
Her work connects closely with the Church’s call to care for creation. In her reflection, Julia references Laudato Si’, Pope Francis’ encyclical that urges people across the world to protect Earth and recognize the link between human life and the natural environment.
As an Associate of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, Julia shares in the Congregation’s mission to care for creation and to stand with communities seeking justice and peace. Her work in central Kentucky reflects that commitment through practical efforts that support sustainable living and local collaboration.
Julia lives in Danville, Kentucky, with her husband and their cat. Through her leadership with New Pioneers and her writing, she continues to invite others to see that meaningful change can begin close to home.
Sometimes, she notes, it starts with gathering around a table and sharing a meal.