‘IT’S A BLESSING’
St. Raphael unveils memorial garden to honor COVID victims
SPAWTUCKET t. Raphael Academy Vice Principal Marc Thibault couldn’t say what touched his heart more – sophomore Ralphletha Flowers’ idea for a COVID-19 Memorial Garden to honor those who died during the pandemic, or his own daughter’s words during a dedication ceremony on humid Wednesday afternoon.
Since they’re equally heartwarming, call it a tie, something he’s used to as a former Saints’ soccer coach.
Students from two theology classes and school officials, including Thibault, gathered in front of the soon-to-be new administration building across Walcott Street from Alumni Hall to conduct a prayer service and unveil a cast aluminum plaque.
It reads, “St. Raphael Academy COVID-19 Memorial Garden. In loving memory of those who lost their lives during the pandemic. Dedicated May 2021. Live Jesus in our hearts … forever.”
Campus Ministry Director Stephen Vargas emceed the event, while Academy Rev. Ryan Simas blessed the plaque and garden with holy water following a few student readings, thoughts and prayers.
“This is very special to me; when Ralphletha came to me last fall with the idea of such a memorial garden … well, she asked me if it was OK, and I said, ‘Of course! This is wonderful,” recalled Thibault, who was the first known Rhode Islander to contract the disease.
“I discussed it with the principal (Dan Richard) and Steve Vargas, and they thought it was great; I didn’t
know where it would be, but Mr. Vargas came up with the idea it should be right here. It’s a blessing, and the reason why is this: Being a victim of COVID-19, I came really close to dying. I didn’t think I was going to survive it, and neither did my family.
“What people don’t realize is that people who develop COVID are suffering. If you’re in the ICU with COVID-19, you’re suffering; you have serious problems breathing. If people could see what happens in there, they wouldn’t be so cavalier about wearing a mask. People will see their loved ones who have COVID, and – it’s great for them – because all they see is them laying on the couch. They’re not really sick, and people think that’s all you get.
“But because they can’t visit the ICU, they don’t know what’s truly going on; these people are suffering so much. I would see the news, and they would say ‘20 people died today,’ or ‘just one person,’ and my heart would ache, and it still aches every single time I hear that.,” he added. “It doesn’t matter if it’s 20 or one because I know what they went through. They suffered.
“When I see people who understand the severity of this virus, I appreciate them. For instance, we’re honoring the people who have passed on, yes, but we’re also honoring the people who have made it, who beat it, and that’s special. As a community, no matter what we do, we have to do it together, in unity, holding hands as one.
“We’re so fractured in so many different ways, and to think a pandemic is one of those ways, it’s sad – it’s beyond comprehension.”
During his opening statements, Vargas said he and other administrators asked students if they would come forth with any experiences they had with the coronavirus.
“That’s always difficult to know, and a lot of people were hesitant to say anything,” he explained. “The one student who approached me and said, ‘COVID was really tough on my family’ was Lauren Thibault. You may remember our vice principal, Mr. Thibault, was patient number one in Rhode Island, and there was a time when the Thibault family thought they were going to lose him – and did we.
“Lauren told me she was thankful that she’s not part of a family that is in mourning over someone lost, but almost knows what they feel, what they’re going through.”
––– Vargas then read the junior Thibault’s words, entitled “Remember A Life.
“Through the craziness of the past year and a half, we have all been faced with numerous struggles. It’s been a year full of stress, difficulties and change; let us not forget those lives that were lost,” wrote Lauren, who did not attend the ceremony as she was slated for a virtual learning day. “Within the unveiled chaos and change, they must be remembered.
“Here at Saints, we’ve created a plaque and garden to dedicate and honor in memory of those who lost their lives due to COVID-19. It is important for us to come together to celebrate and honor these lives. With all of this loss and adversity in our lives, let us all strive to acknowledge the hidden blessings that we’ve been fortunate enough to experience during these trying times: The importance of family time, self-reflection and community.
“I’m glad that we’re all able to stand together as a community,” she continued. “Maybe this year has been teaching us how to truly connect and how strong we truly are, and has shown us how we can touch people without really touching, that we can be distanced yet feel closer than ever.”
That’s when her surviving dad took to the podium.
“As a victim of COVID, I can share with you how beautiful this is,” he said. “Praying for every family that has suffered and every family member who has recovered is a blessing. This virus, this illness, this disease, it’s been hard for a lot of people this year, and I think this blessing is symbolic as to where we’re moving to this summer.
“Hopefully, at some time in the near future, we can take these masks off and put all this behind us. But – keep in mind – the family members and the people who have passed and who have suffered. Keep them in your hearts because it matters, and I can tell you it feels special.”
According to Flowers, that was the whole idea: Providing the school’s current and future students, alumni, past
and current teachers, etc., a place to remember and say a prayer for those who were lost, and also pray that such a pandemic never occur again.
“The students pass by here every day between classes, and this is to make them more mindful of exactly what has happened; the whole idea is for them to say a prayer,” Vargas said. “The intention is not for it to be a public square, but as a reminder to our students and school family.”
Flowers said the notion came to her while she and other members of the SRA Student Advisory Board were asked to come up with ideas for the betterment of their school campus and community.
“Mr. Thibault oversees the board, and I kept thinking and brainstorming, and I saw people doing other things,” she said. “Then I thought of it, and I decided to contact him, and he told me he loved the idea, but we should wait until spring. Spring came, and I e-mailed him.”
When asked if her idea stemmed from her own family’s experience, she said, “Not my immediate family, but my dad’s two cousins developed COVID, and they passed away, and that was really sad.”
Flowers said while standing in front of one of four large urns filled with, naturally, flowers, that she was proud to be one of the architects of this memorial garden.
“I thought the ceremony went really well; I’m happy with it,” she beamed. “I can see how many people are actually interested in it and liking it. It’s beautiful.”