On May 10, 2021, the Congregational Leadership received a funding request for the construction of a greenhouse to be built on the grounds of St. Clare Convent. The request was based on a desire to create a sacred space of co-creation and the nurturing of God’s vegetation, foliage, and flowering plants. It was envisioned to be a source of growth and spiritual flourishing for God’s gardeners, a place to give plants new life and to possibly offer gardening education and experiences to others. Our Leadership recognized it as not only being good but as being a very good undertaking. And although it was anticipated that this project would be completed within a year, unbeknownst, to our Facilities Director, Brian Clipson, it turned out to be a long, prolonged labor of love, due to COVID, inclement weather and construction challenges.
Little did any of us know that it would not be until April 22, 2026, that this project would come to completion. How appropriate that on Earth Day, we would witness the inaugural blessing of the greenhouse, christened “The Canticle”.
As our Sisters, Staff and Associates gathered, Sr. Marilyn Trowbridge welcomed all and called us to reflect on Psalm 66, “Let all the earth cry out to God with Joy.” We were then led further into a spirit of gratitude for the astonishing beauty of God’s creation by Srs. Armida Sison and Bonnie Steinlage, through prayer celebrating the Wisdom of Nature, a reading from the Book of Genesis and into joyous song, “The Canticle of the Sun”.
After the ceremonial cutting of the entrance ribbon by Brian Clipson and Andrew Jahns, our Facilities Team, we were invited to cross the threshold, enter the greenhouse, and be the first to plant wildflower seeds in the raised garden beds and bless them with the sprinkling of holy water.
We are overjoyed that our new greenhouse, The Canticle, offers us a sense of deep connection with the miracle of new life, growth, hope and joy now and for many, many seasons to come.
