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St. Barbara Church to Dedicate Beautiful Marian Garden
If you have not yet seen the stunning statue of Madonna and Child, the Madonna della Strada, gracing the entry to St. Barbara Roman Catholic Church in Harrison City, it is worth a drive! Illuminated by an in-ground light, Our Lady is visible day and night, welcoming you to stop and offer a prayer or sit in quiet meditation. The Marian Garden project was initiated by Parents On Fire, a group of Moms and Dads from St. Barbara Church whose children attend Queen of Angels Catholic School in Irwin, PA. The parents were looking for a way to thank the Parish for their continued support. In 2009, taking momentum from that year's theme of Catholic School’s Week, "Celebrate Service!" these parents initiated plans for a Marian Garden. With the help of Father Ken Zaccagnini, Pastor of St. Barbara's, parishioners and staff fill the Marian Garden floral stands as a beautiful and respectful tribute to the Blessed Mother, Mary Queen of the Angels.
The Madonna della Strada statue (Our Lady of the Streets, chosen because of the beauty and tenderness of Mary with the baby Jesus) was crafted by the Demetz Art Studio in Northern Italy. This 5 foot tall statue, constructed in fiberglass with a white marble finish, was funded by parishioners in honor of their children who are alumnae of Queen of Angels school. The high granite base of the statue, a lovely visual finish to enhance the Garden’s display, was a joint purchase with monies from the Ladies' Guild of St. Barbara Parish and the Marian Garden funds, derived from donations, flower sales, and from memorials engraved into the bricks which form the floor of the Garden. Parents On Fire hopes to erect a trellis above the Statue as funds become available and the Garden "grows" beyond its current space.
The Brick pavers forming the Garden floor are engraved by Gift Bricks, USA, in Sturtevant, Wisconsin, to memorialize loved ones or offer a prayer. A limited number of these Belden bricks, in Claret full range, are available at $75 each to members of the parish and the community wishing to remember relatives and friends dear to them with choice of engraving. Please phone Dawn Borger in the Parish Office at 724-744-7474. Cliff Henderson of Henderson Construction, has graciously donated his talent in laying the brick pavers. The bricks are an ongoing process, ordered semi-annually as the garden grows. » Brick Order Form
The Very Reverend Kenneth Zaccagnini will celebrate the Dedication of the Marian Garden at 5:00PM on Wednesday, September 8, the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary at St. Barbara Church, 111 Raymaley Road, Harrison City, PA 15636. Anyone wishing to attend is most welcome to join in prayer as the Statue and Garden are blessed and the birthday of Mary is celebrated.
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