Church to construct a Peace Garden

Area outside of St. Cyprian’s Catholic Parish will be open to people of all denominations

St. Cyprian’s Catholic Church in Perry Township will be constructing a Peace Garden on its property where people of all denominations can walk, meditate and pray.

The garden, to be located behind the church at 4223 Middle Ridge Road, will be open 365 days

a year, 24 hour a day. It will be a lighted area with security cameras and free admission.

“Years ago, almost all churches were open to anyone for meditation at any hour of the day or night,” said St. Cyprian’s parishioner and Peace Garden Steering Committee member Nita Wyatt. “But with the increased concern over vandalism and theft, now there is really no place to go. Maybe at the airport chapel, but beyond that, most churches do not make facilities available to the public.”

The new Peace Garden will be St. Cyprian’s latest step in developing its outdoor property for reflection and worship.

St. Cyprian’s founding pastor, the Rev. Anthony Alexander, originated the idea of a Memorial Garden as a place where people could walk and pray, meditate and reflect. It was created, but today is basically woods, including a gravel Prayer Path, the Stations of the Cross, the Rosary and some benches for seating. The area is suited only for daytime use, since it is not lighted and the foliage has become overgrown.

St. Cyprian’s plans call for the area of the site to be redeveloped into the Peace Garden. Features will include a Peace Walk, the Stations of the Cross, and the Rosary Trail. Literature with explanations of the various components of the garden will be available.

But perhaps the most

eye-catching aspect of the Peace Garden will be two polished granite monuments — each 6 feet tall — engraved with the Ten Commandments as given in the biblical Book of Exodus.

“Some around the country are taking down the Ten Commandments — we are putting them up, and big,” said Rob Mocarski, cochairman of the project.

The Peace Garden will be open to anyone, of any denomination.

“We want to open it up to all religions and local churches — not only those in Perry, but in all of Lake County,” said Frank Whalen, project co-chairman.

People who have no religious affiliation or are embarking on a spiritual journey also will be welcome at the garden.

The garden is the followup to another major outdoor project at the church — the Grotto — that was completed this spring. Located adjacent to the future site of the Peace Garden, the Grotto is a place for worship services and Masses, including the Catholic rites of baptism, the Eucharist, confirmation, reconciliation, anointing of the sick, marriage, and holy orders.

St. Cyprian’s wants to complete the garden as a part of the parish’s 50th anniversary jubilee celebration, scheduled for Oct. 14-15. The parish will conduct a collection for the $150,000 Peace Garden project during Masses held over Labor Day weekend, Sept. 1-2.