St. Francis of Assisi Dedicates Peace Garden

Posted: Oct 4, 2012 at 4:56 PM [Oct 4, 2012]

St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church and School dedicated a new Peace Garden today to celebrate the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi and to launch the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the School. The School opened its doors in the fall of 1952.

The Peace Garden features a Peace Pole, which reads “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in eight different languages. Designed by a committee of parishioners, including a number of certified master gardeners, the garden will be completed in the spring of next year and is a permanent fixture of the parish and school campus. “We consider it a great blessing to have this quiet, contemplative space,” said Principal Julie Fantone.

Fr. James McDougall, the Pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, presided over the dedication, blessing the space as one that reflects the ideals of St. Francis himself, reminds the community to spend time in prayer and promotes peace in the world.

Today’s dedication will be followed by an all-class alumni ‘St. Francis Mustang Re-Connection’ celebration on Saturday, October 6. As part of the Saturday celebration, Bishop Earl Boyea will offer the 5:00 PM Mass, and the school community will host a reunion at the school immediately following Mass, so that alumni, retired teachers and staff, and friends of the School can tour the space and reunite with old friends.

Alumni who wish to join the celebration on Saturday do not need to have made reservations, Ms. Fantone noted. A $25 per-person admission at the door will include food, drinks, and live music. Development Director Colleen Pierce added, “We are seeking contact information for many of our ‘lost’ alumni as well, so alumni who are unable to attend can still let us know where they are today via the St. Francis website, http://www.stfrancisa2.com”

In the spring of 2013, a time capsule will be sealed with contents selected by the current students. “The students have a unique perspective about what they think is important to represent them, and who we are as a community,” said Ms. Fantone. “The capsule will be sealed until our 100th anniversary, and offers us a way to look to the future of Catholic education at the same time we celebrate the past and our shared journey as whole.”

 

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