Above, church members Denise Drobek and two of her children, Jadyn and Joey, sit on a new granite bench talking with Father David Buersmeyer in the Prayer Garden during last Sunday’s dedication cermony. Below top, Prayer Garden Committee leaders, from left, Janet Tevlin, Mary Ann Klakulak and Paula Klozik stand near the rock bubbler in the new SS. John and Paul Prayer Garden in Washington Township. Below bottom, rendering of the way the Prayer Garden was to look.
(Observer photo by Marianne Weiss)
A brick pathway at SS. John and Paul Catholic Church in Washington Township that seems to meander in a garden is actually shaped like a rosary.
Located on 28 Mile Road, west of Campground Road, the community dedicated the new Prayer Garden after the 9:30 a.m. Mass last Sunday.
A brick pathway is shaped to form a rosary, including beads, starting at the east entrance with the cross. Following the path, the beads are indicated by bricks shaped like diamonds to indicate each time the “Hail Mary” is to be recited.
A rock bubbler sooths people praying with the gentle sound of water and centered in the garden is a miniature of “The Pieta,” a well-known masterpiece by Michelangelo. The outdoor statue portrays Mary grieving as she holds the lifeless, scarred body of Jesus after he was taken off the cross.
Granite benches invite people to sit and relax while saying prayers and meditating. Lilac bushes, daffodils and perennials placed in strategic places along with dogwood for the winter months, make the garden a year-round retreat.
All of this, including the trees, flowers and a rose garden, will be taken care of by the garden committee, nicknamed “Gardening Angels.”
Serving since January on the Prayer Garden committee are co-Chairs Mary Ann Klakulak and Janet Tevlin, with members Connie Hojnacki, Ron and Sharon Pewinski, Sharon Pospiesch, Tamara Weiss, Pat Gresko, Cathy Radtke and Paula Klozik, the church’s business manager.
Klozik, who has worked at the church for 15 years, said the landscape company designed the garden after the committee researched other parish’s gardens.
“We started searching for a contractor to do our prayer garden in front of the church,” said Klozik. “It will be lit up at night so people can come to use it 24 hours a day.”
Klozik said families can remember loved ones with brick memorials that will allow for names to be engraved on them.
The contractor hired for the job was Jerry Mayle from Custom Landscape Services.
“We did the brick work and the landscaping, with the focal point being the rosary,” said Mayle. “It was an honor to do this at SS. John and Paul.”
Father David Buersmeyer began the dedication ceremony as parish members gathered outside in the chilly November air. He thanked all those who served on the Prayer Garden committee and the landscaping contractor in attendance.
Following this, Father Buersmeyer had the very first family sit on one of the benches for a photo in the center of the garden.
“The rest of our family is home with colds,” said Denise Drobek of Wahington Township, while her kids, Jadyn and Joey, shivered next to her. “We really love this Prayer Garden, it’s just beautiful.”
Ron and Sharon Pewinski from Washington Township have been members since 1980.
“We are glad to be on the garden committee,” said Ron. “We brought up ideas for the landscaping and it has turned out beautiful, better than I pictured on the design.”
In the last part of the intercessory prayers, Father Buersmeyer said, “We pray for the surrounding community, that people will see this garden as a place where they are welcome to come.”
Then he blessed the garden with holy water and led the parishioners as they walked around the rosary path.
“We dedicate this Prayer Garden as a place of reflection and peace,” he said.
SS. John and Paul Catholic Church is located at 7777 28 Mile Road, Washington Township and their parish office telephone number is (586) 781-9010 or people can find their website at: www.ssjohnandpaul.org.
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