Assisi House Meditation Garden
“The aim of a meditation garden is to create a place where everything is soothing and peaceful, a place to praise God for the beauty of creation, a place to allow the sounds of the water to refresh our souls, a place for singing of the birds to bring joy to our hearts, a place to remind us that we are ‘called to act justly, love tenderly, and walk humbly with our God.’”
(Micah 6)
This reflection was taken from the prayer service at the blessing of the Assisi House Mediation Garden which took place on September 20. The sisters at Assisi House are so grateful for this little piece of beauty where they “sit quietly with the Lord, where they pray, laugh, and share treasured stories.”
Several of the sisters shared their thoughts on the garden. Sr. Anne Conrad Koerner said, “I go out to pray there each morning and it lifts my spirits for the day.” Sr. Dolores Donovan finds it a “place of beauty and peace.” Sr. Dorothy Real tells us that “I love the movement of the water and watching the birds. I always feel more relaxed after I visit the garden.”
The staff enjoys the garden as well. Many staff and volunteers take the sisters for a visit during the day and into the evening. Dina Loizar, one of our nursing assistants, said, “I like to take the sisters to the garden. They pray, relax, and feel comforted by its beauty.”
We at Assisi House are so grateful to Sue Garza, the sister of Sr. Mary Happ, whose generous donation made the garden a possibility. Likewise, we thank Sr. Kathy Dougherty and the leadership team, the foundation, and the men from the plant operations department for making this dream a reality.
We recognize that the greatest gift is the gift of love. And so, gentle Earth, be blessed by our love. Soothing, streaming water, be blessed by our love; sturdy, rugged rocks, be blessed by our love. We pray, “Bless this garden. May this sacred place remind us to love as you do, Lord, the entire human family—person by person—and to rejoice in all of your creation.
Sr. Peggy Egan, OSF
