Parishioners of Our Lady Queen of Peace Church in Arlington celebrated a revamped garden space July 28 with a blessing and reception.
An hour after hearing the Gospel reading of Jesus feeding the 5,000 with two fish and five loaves of bread at the Sunday evening Mass, parishioners stepped out into the brilliant summer twilight for the garden’s blessing and fellowship.
Spiritan Father Timothy Hickey, pastor, blessed the garden, named in honor of St. Isidore the Farmer, expressing gratitude to God for it and invoking his blessing.
“We thank you for the gift of this garden and for the opportunity to serve others through its harvest,” he said. “May it be a sign of your love and providence and may it inspire us to care for all your creation with respect and gratitude. Through the intercession of St. Isidore, may this garden flourish and may we always seek to do your will in all things.”
After the blessing, parishioners and neighbors dined on locally produced food piled on reusable plates — another hallmark of the parish. The menu featured elote dip and chips, watermelon tomato salad, baked zucchini with parmesan and grilled peaches. Prayer cards for St. Isidore, St. Dorothy and St. Kateri Tekakwitha dotted the surrounding tables, along with information about the garden.
Produce grown in the garden supports the robust parish food pantry. Renovations included elevating the garden beds to increase food production. A decorative fence surrounding the garden includes four separate gates of entry, beckoning passersby in for spiritual reflection in the beautiful space.
