ST Paul’s School, Woodridge, took the opportunity during Catholic Education Week to bless and officially open its new prayer garden dedicated to St Mary of the Cross.
Parish priest Fr Dave Batey blessed the prayer garden, asking God to make it a place where peace was granted and prayers were answered as the school and wider community engaged prayerfully in the sacred space.
The prayer garden was designed to provide a space within the school for students, staff and parents or carers to enjoy peaceful time in nature as well as to practise mindfulness, meditation and prayer.
St Paul’s principal Celestine Boundy said the school named the garden the “Mary MacKillop Prayer Garden” in honour of Australia’s first saint St Mary of the Cross.
Images of her are featured in the centre of the pathway through the garden, along with images of St Paul – the school’s patron saint.
The charism of these two key individuals are central to the practices of the school.
Mrs Boundy said in selecting St Mary MacKillop as the inspiration for the prayer garden, the school continued “the work of the Josephite Sisters in this wonderful community”.
“Students and staff are excited to have this new resource in our school,” she said.
“It (was) a feature of our school’s celebration of the feast day of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop.”
