The new rosary prayer garden was installed at St. Michael the Archangel May 9.
Glenmary Father Tom Charters dedicated St. Michael the Archangel mission’s new rosary garden on Mother’s Day, May 9, officially opening a space that will serve for private prayer and public witness.
Built over the winter, courtesy of the family of deceased parishioner John Donzella, the garden lies just south of the mission’s multipurpose building, which is used for Mass, administration and education.
The garden includes a small statue of Mary in the center, and pavers represent the beads of the rosary. A pair of benches is available for quiet reflection and two young trees will grow to provide shade for the area. A large upright wooden cross stands at the beginning of the path. Behind the garden are stations of the cross made by local middle school students.
“It adds beauty to the area,” said Father Tom. “It faces the road so people can’t miss it when they’re driving by.”
Father Tom added that children in the mission’s religious education program are known to frequent the garden to play after class.
The rosary garden is the latest but not the last project underway at St. Michael the Archangel. The mission is raising funds to build a pair of classrooms for religious education as they’ve already outgrown their present space built in 2018.