Rose oasis feeds the soul

Inner city priest plants beauty amidst concrete

By RENATO GANDIA
WCR Staff Writer
Edmonton

This was Father James Holland's contention when he created a 28.8 sq. metre rose garden in front of his rectory at Sacred Heart Church of the First Peoples on 96th Street.

The garden complements the colourful environment inside the Church that features different sacred art works.

This Edmonton street that houses the most churches in the city is also home to many of the city's poor.

When you walk through the neighbourhood, the environment reveals some of its own character. But one must be cautious not to judge by what one sees.

The community is a close-knit one, Holland commented. "We have a lot of poverty here, but we also have a lot of people who care about their properties."

If one walks along the street, you see a lot of vegetable gardens, but not flower gardens. Yes, people care about their properties, but something so lovely as the rose garden is not done.

"We see (flower gardens) more often in the suburbs and other residential areas where people show off what they can put in front of their yards during summer," Holland told the WCR.

Admittedly, Holland said, "people have a fear of the inner city too. And I think the more you make it nicer, . . . it takes away some of the fear, as opposed to having only an empty space or an empty lot."

"We really need something alive here in the inner city." - Fr. James Holland

People stop and gaze at his garden. That tells the priest people like beauty. "They may not be able to create it themselves, but they like nice things too. We really need something alive here in the inner city."

Several roses are ready to bloom and the spiritual gardener plans to put a sign "God is watching you" because some can't resist the temptation of picking them.

"I wish that they would leave them there so everyone can enjoy."

The circle of roses is surrounded by marigolds to keep bugs and aphids off the fragile roses. A font - filled with fresh water for the birds -- is centred in the rose circle.

Holland knows he can plant grass or some vegetables. But the neighbourhood priest decided to plant a flower garden to give a different tone, a change in atmosphere, something people mostly see in the posh suburbs. He believes this pocket of beauty lifts peoples' spirit when they go to Church to pray or even when folk are simply passing by.

Gardening serves another purpose for the busy pastor. When he gets out and works in the garden, he can escape from the stress of parish work.

"It doesn't take a lot of work. It highlights the beauty of creation and it gives the people the feeling, 'We can have that (beauty) in the inner city too.'"

Holland hopes his neighbours will follow suit and perhaps one day, all the inner city yards will be a version of the bit of nature's beauty in front of his rectory.

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