Last modified: Monday, February 2, 2009 2:16 AM EST The Rev. John Sullivan of the LaSalette Shrine in Attleboro walks on a trail on Thursday behind the shrine near Brother’s Pond. Rev. Sullivan enjoys taking such winter walks in the woods, and writes that such walks remind him of the recent decision by the Massachusetts Audubon, the Attleboro Land Trust and the La Salette community “to permanently protect and care for 110 acres of woodland, fields, and wetlands currently owned by the LaSalette Missionaries.” (Staff photo by Mike George) Winter reflections BY THE REV. JOHN SULLIVAN FOR THE SUN CHRONICLE Following the experience of the Festival of Lights here at La Salette and the thousands of visitors December brought, January is much more quiet and reflective. With the new-fallen snow, I have often taken walks in the woods behind the shrine. Although it is a surprise to some that do not like the cold weather, I see the winter as a very beautiful time of the year. The freshly fallen snow is highlighted by the pale blue sky and the dark outlines of the tree trunks and the overhanging branches as I trudge along the snowy trail. The silence is so enjoyable, broken only by the sound of my own footsteps crunching through the unblemished beauty. But before I become too poetic, I turn my thoughts back to those many families that came as Christmas pilgrims to enjoy the sights and different activities. I do not want to let go of the wholesome spirit of Christmas, which spoke so much of a community of families who simply take the time to enjoy one another's presence and celebrate the love God shares with all of humanity. Recently I came across last years's World Day of Peace Message of Pope Benedict XVI. I was drawn back to the past year's message with its emphasis on the human family, a community of peace. He states: "Indeed, in a healthy family life we experience some of the fundamental elements of peace: justice and love between brothers and sisters, the role of authority expressed by parents, loving concern for the members who are weaker because of youth, sickness or old age, mutual help in the necessities of life, readiness to accept others and, if necessary, to forgive them." It may seem an oversimplification, but I do believe that the family offers a model by which we can better pursue peace, joy and true concern for the downtrodden among our family of nations. He went on to write: "A family lives in peace if all its members submit to a common standard: this is what prevents selfish individualism and brings individuals together, fostering their harmonious coexistence and giving direction to their work. This principle, obvious as it is, also holds true for wider communities, from local and national communities to the international community itself." Having enjoyed a healthy walk in nature's beauty, I also recalled what the pope said about the family in its relationship to the environment. In these times of fear of global warming and abuse of our natural resources, he says: "The family needs a home, a fit environment in which to develop its proper relationships. For the human family, this home is the earth, the environment that God the Creator has given us to inhabit with creativity and responsibility: it has been entrusted to men and women to be protected and cultivated with responsible freedom, with the good of all as a constant guiding criterion." This reminds me of the recent decision by Massachusetts Audubon, the Attleboro Land Trust and ourselves, the LaSalette community, to permanently protect and care for 110 acres of woodland, fields, and wetlands currently owned by the LaSalette Missionaries. The Attleboro Springs Campaign at LaSalette states: "Our shared vision is to create a sanctuary for wildlife, providing both public access for walking, nature study and quiet reflection, and a new location for environmental education in Attleboro." This gives me much hope that in the not too distant future I may well meet several of my "brothers and sisters" also enjoying the wonderful surroundings of nature in our area. This could happen not only in the winter, but in all the seasons in this colorful land we New Englanders call "home". The Rev. John Sullivan is a priest at the LaSalette Shrine in Attleboro, where he has served as a staff member for the last five years. He specializes in working with the various ethnic groups who come to the shrine for pilgrimages, especially the Hispanic population based on his experience in South America.