Parish rededicates Garden of Peace in Memory of Children Born and Unborn
garden of peace arthur paris photo
Reciting a passage from Matthew 19 are attendees of the rededication of the Garden of Peace in Memory of Children Born and Unborn on June 25 at All Saints Church in Syracuse. (Photo courtesy Arthur Paris)
By Virginia Winters, Contributing writer
Six years ago, the Garden of Peace in Memory of Children Born and Unborn was designed and created by one of the Small Faith Communities of All Saints Parish along with the support and guidance of Father Frederick D. Daley, Pastor. The anniversary and blessing of this garden was celebrated after the weekend Masses of June 24 and 25 in Syracuse.
The ceremony began at the end of Mass with a recitation by the congregation of a prayer that was composed by Meg Ksander, Pastoral Associate of All Saints. Everyone was then invited to follow Father Daley as he and the altar servers processed out to the garden.
After the welcome by Father Daley, everyone was invited to join in a reading of Matthew 19:13-15 in English, Swahili and Spanish to accommodate some of the many ethnic groups that belong to All Saints:
“Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked them, but Jesus said, ‘Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’ After he placed his hands on them, he went away.”
The Gospel reading was followed by the most solemn part of the ceremony. Those in attendance were invited to remember, by name, a child of any age who had passed on to eternal life. Following this was a moment of silence for private reflection. The only interruption during this quiet moment was the sound of a song sparrow in a nearby tree.
Father Daley then blessed the garden and all of the children who had gathered for the rededication. The ceremony closed with the singing of two hymns, one hymn sung by the Congolese Choir.
All are welcome to visit the Garden of Peace at All Saints Parish, 1340 Lancaster Ave., Syracuse. As Meg Ksander wrote in her prayer, “In every season may the garden welcome all — friends, neighbors and strangers alike — and draw us all into the wholeness of God’s tender and unconditional love.”
