Parishioners garden for God

IC photo/Marie Mischel

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Parishioners at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church have made a ministry of tending to the many flowerbeds on the parish campus.

HOLLADAY – Some parishioners at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church have taken to heart the admonition to share their time, talent and treasures in building up the Lord’s kingdom. They’re doing it in a very literal way: digging, weeding, pruning and caring for the parish’s many flowerbeds.

The St. Vincent property includes the church, rectory/parish office, Benvegnu Center, school, day care, a prayer garden, outdoor Stations of the Cross, a playing field and two large parking lots with many flowerbeds. It’s a lot to take care of, so last year the parish came up with an adopt a flowerbed program.

“This is a great big property, so we asked for help,” Father John Norman, pastor, explained. “There’s no way that during the summer season we can keep up on the weeds and the trimming. We asked people to give a little time and adopt a corner and, as always, great and wonderful people stepped up.”

Since spring 2020, more than 20 parishioners have taken care of the grounds.

“Some did landscaping and trimming and pruning and care throughout the hot months of summer,” Fr. Norman said. “It’s a wonderful, wonderful thing.”

Participants care for their assigned areas on their own schedule. The program continues into the fall when participants remove annuals and cut back plantings to get ready for winter.

“There’s no stopping people’s kindness once you get started,” Fr. Norman said.

Pattie and Darold LeClaire, who are avid gardeners, took on a particularly challenging project: the west side of the Benvegnu Center which was mostly undeveloped, rocky and weed-infested. They worked with Millcreek Gardens to develop a plan for the area and brought in trees, shrubs and flowers, all paid for out of their own pockets. Their son Greg and parish maintenance man Andy Peternell helped them with the heavy lifting and planting.

At the beginning, the LeClaires put in a lot of time to get the area planted and developed. These days they go over about once a week to weed and take care of the area. They hope to continue caring for the flowerbeds as long as possible.

“Since we like gardening, we thought it was something we could probably do,” Pattie LeClaire said. “It has been fun to make things bloom and grow and make the church look nice.”

Along with the adopt a flowerbed program, the parish has a Share the Harvest program, through which parishioners share fresh vegetables and fruit from their gardens. The produce is placed in the entryway of the church.

“We have lots of people who live in condominiums and care centers or residences for the elderly,” Fr. Norman said. “They’re able to pick up a fresh tomato and take it home, so it’s a very nice thing.”

Fr. Norman said they can always use more help; contact the parish office for details.