Our History and Vision
The Canticle of Creatures meditation garden at the former Lourdes Little Portion was a sanctuary for many people. The Meditation Gardens of Collingswood is a grassroots organization inspired by the former beautiful, healing space.
The Canticle of Creatures Meditation Garden
This special place, the Canticle of Creatures garden, was located in Collingswood, New Jersey. The garden was the vision of Sister Marianne Hieb, RSM, and Sister Helen Owens, OSF. It was completed in the spring of 2008, as a living tribute to St. Francis of Assisi's The Canticle of Creatures prayer, which teaches the beauty of praising God through the elements—earth, air, fire, water, and wind.
The garden was a place for everyone; the young and the old, the sick and the healthy, and people of all faiths and backgrounds. Many special occasions and celebrations, including weddings, memorials, wellness classes, retreat meetings, and even book clubs took place here. Countless memories were created, journaled, and shared across the many sitting areas, a pond, and meditative spaces in the garden. Sister Marianne Hieb’s devotional practice of art journaling was shared with many people in the garden. It was common to visit the garden and see many notes, journals, prayers, and meditations left in a mailbox at the rear of the property. Visitors of the garden could read and share reflections on what the garden meant to them, and how it touched each person’s unique spiritual path.
Turning Loss Into Beauty
In the garden was a visionary sculpture of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the environment. Sister Marianne Hieb’s example of turning loss into beauty is an inspiration for the Meditation Gardens of Collingswood. While we have lost the Canticle of Creatures, we will facilitate the creation of spiritual meditative spaces with a focus on peace, healing, wholeness, and sustainability.
We are grateful that the Canticle of Creatures Garden had a place in the hearts of many people in Collingswood. We hope you join us to rebuild and reimagine the mystical, healing effect that nature can bring to our community.
Image credits: Deena DiBacco and Patch.com
Next Steps
With the support of Sister Marianne Hieb and Sister Helen Owens, we will continue the mission to work with public, private, and faith-based organizations to create sustainable gardens open to the public. We seek volunteers, donations, partnerships, and fundraising ideas and support.
In addition to establishing local gardens and smaller meditative “pocket’’ gardens, we hope to partner with local horticultural and environmental groups, community gardens, pollinator projects, and gardening clubs to encourage more sustainable, permaculture and pollinator-friendly practices. We see a future where there are many places in and around Collingswood to sit and sink deeper within oneself.
We are actively working to find a space in Collingswood for a meditation garden. We hope our healing gardens in Collingswood will inspire other towns, and we can help educate them on the benefits of meditation gardens. If this mission excites you, please join us!