Rain began to sprinkle as we headed down 35W south an hour early to ready St. Joan’s Memorial Garden for its dedication ceremony on Sunday afternoon. Before long it began to pour. Dismayed at first, I began to think, OK, this will work. It can rain now, but clear up for the ceremony. That became my prayer.      

The hard rain subsided as we reached St. Joan’s parking lot, but the sprinkles continued as we placed umbrellas over the tablecloths and small plastic cups on the tables set up for champagne later. More serious was the fact that the sound system couldn’t be used without damaging it should there be rain, even a hint of it. Another quick prayer. But there was help, even for this contingency. Doug Lohman appeared with a collapsible tent that covered the musicians and their instruments. Thank You. Thank You.

Tangletown Gardens came through on Saturday morning with new sod for a muddy spot just outside the east-facing gate, one worry that the committee could check off their list. On Sunday morning Tangletown supplied lovely planted pots near each of the gates, plus a birdbath whose basin held holy water needed for the blessing, and another plant-filled pot in the center circle. Even the Garden chipped in for this special day - two rose colored azaleas blazing with color gave their all to add to the festivities, day lilies looked ready to burst with bloom as did many of the other plants and bushes, all seemingly aware of the importance of the day.

The stage was set just in time for the crowd of about 50 or 60 persons who gathered as witnesses for what was to take place.    
 

Even in our wildest dreams, though, we, the committee, never anticipated the miracle that was about to be - a culmination of things that went so perfectly we could only conclude that a Guiding Hand, other than any of ours, was not only present, but in charge. Happy day!

Anna and Fred Vagle, along with Jim Price, began their music as people gathered. Each one was given a rose as they walked through the gates, along with a program and a short history of the Garden’s beginnings.

Father DeBruycker began with a welcome and thanks for all those who came. Marlys Weber(right) told about the contributions of each committee member who had worked alongside her on the vital details of the Garden’s birth. We sang the gathering song, “Morning Has Broken.” with these amazingly appropriate words, “.  .   . Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden, Sprung in completeness where His feet pass.”

Mae Lane Bernardo, a sacred dancer, raised incense, a sweet tribute in all directions, as she wove gracefully around the center walk.      

Jim Schoeller, committee member, invoked e e cummings’ spirit in his poem that begins:

I thank you God for most

This amazing day: . . .

Father Jim Cassidy blessed us and the Garden with a greenery bundle dipped in holy water as the musicians intoned over and over the blessing song asking for Peace, “Dona Nobis Pacem.”

Roger Dick read his poem, The Garden, (entire poem), composed especially for the day. In it he pays tribute to the Garden and all those buried here:

In gardens, perhaps, heaven itself touches earth,

the nearest we come to heaven on earth.

Joan Riebel, committee member, gave a toast as we raised our filled champagne glasses to drink to this lovely addition to St. Joan’s, the Garden, which is now a permanent fixture of our church.     

Jo Welch-Youngren worked with Harvey Egan in the early days of St. Joan of Arc. At that time she, Cy and Joan Speltz, Nancy Anderson, Darlene Arbuckle, Ferry Deslauriers, and John McGowan made up the staff. We all pitched in and did everything that needed doing and had a ball every day. Jo’s first husband, Jack Welch, was buried from St. Joan’s in 1980. Later she married Dave Youngren, moved to New Mexico, then returned to her roots. Now she and Dave sit on the left side center at the 9:00 o’clock Mass on Sundays and love every minute of it. Jo can be reached at joandave@ties2.net.

After all this the rain stopped and the sun appeared in the western sky. At the end we could feel God’s Spirit hovering over our Garden and us and that was the best miracle we could have asked for on “ . . .most this amazing day.”

* Every Thing Is Holy Now,  Words by Peter Mayer