Mary Mother of Priests Garden - Blessing and Installation of First Set of Names

Before concluding her second term of office as our Mother Prioress, Mother Marietta enjoyed one of her last ‘official’ acts as Mother in late September 2019: Taking a powered screw driver in hand and attaching the very first name plate of a priest we intended to honor in our Mary Mother of Priests Tribute Garden. Naturally, the priest in question was our Founder, Father Gerald. Other names also went up: some living, like Pope Benedict XVI, and some deceased, like Father Michal Los, FDP of Poland but all of them inspiring us in our vocations to strengthen the priesthood. The Knights of Columbus, whose personal sweat and tears (and yes, some blood too) provided most of the ‘sweat equity’ in physically constructing this first phase of the Mary Mother of Priests Garden, joined us for the day of blessing and installation, personally thanking all for this chance to honor priests in a unique and individual way.

This innovative phase of the construction, comprised of the Stations of the Cross, a Marian grotto, placard signs, arbors, and a pergola, is designed to be completely portable, anticipating the day when the final, larger garden of stone will take its place on this hill overlooking the surrounding valleys and hills and this humble beginning will be preserved and relocated deeper into the enclosure. These first names fixed to the display walls will not only be added to the permanent structure but will continue to be a focus of particular prayer for us as the years go on.

: Tractor powered augur broke on rock. Next step: Post hole diggers….MORE rock. Final steps in digging three feet deep post holes? Sledge hammer and tamper. Knights never give up.

: Nuns inspect the arbor at the Phase I garden

: Father W. Patrick Resen selects a blessing for the dedication and installment of the first names in the Phase I Mary Mother of Priests Garden

: The first plate: Our Founder

: Knight Ron Henry assists Mother Marietta in placing the very first plaque for our Founder, Father Gerald.

: Placing the names of priests in the Mary Mother of Priests tribute garden

: The Mary Mother of Priests Garden is intended as a tribute garden rather than simply a memorial garden. Thus it includes both inspiring priests who have gone to their eternal reward, like young Father Michal Los of Poland as well as priests still faithfully serving the Church, like Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.

: Sister Jonpaul displaying soon to be hung plate for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.

: The outer perimeter is marked with Stations of the Cross.

: Sister Sarah Michael, now Mother Sarah Michael, holds the plate for Msgr. Robert Urland, who we knew from our time stationed in Italy while he served in the Vatican.

: Deacon Scott Maentz places Father William McNeeley’s plaque.

: Father Patrick Resen and Past TN State Deputy Tracy Staller look on as names are placed in the garden.

: Sister Maristella points to the name of our dear chaplain from our Priory years in Italy, Don Gilberto.

: After plenty of sweat-equity, including some blood and tears, Knights Jimmy Dee and Ron Henry happily pose beside the initial set of priest names to be placed in the garden.