Mercy Medical Center Redding's Healing Garden
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A special evening of fun and celebration to raise funds for the Healing Garden was enjoyed by all who attended "Celebrating Mercy's Hidden Talents" Saturday, March 13, 2010 at the Shasta Senior Nutrition Center banquet hall. The entertainment was stellar, the food was delicious, and Sister Brenda O'Keeffe announced toward the end of the evening that the event had been a huge success, thanks in part to a $10,000 donation from the Mercy Redding Guild and donations received from physicians groups and individuals. A grateful thank-you was expressed by Sister Brenda to all who gave of their time and talents and to those who supported and attended this wonderful event!
A Place to Rest, to Restore and Heal
By Sister Brenda O'Keeffe, RSM
Mercy's Healing Garden has been a vision of Sister Brenda O'Keeffe's for many years. "Creating sacred spaces for prayer, meditation and healing have always been part of our healing ministry. The idea of a healing garden began to germinate in my heart in 2002. I could see a garden designed especially as a place of prayer and quiet where patients, families, employees, physicians, and volunteers could spend time reflecting and healing."
The garden is closely aligned with Mercy’s mission as it incorporates the belief that when we heal, it is not just physical healing that is necessary. It is critical to focus on the whole person, including the spiritual and emotional dimensions of healing. Life and healing are always possible within a medical diagnosis.
Michael O’Connor, from Nichols, Melburg, and Rossetto, donated his time to envision some preliminary ideas and engaged Kate Gleim, a design consultant nationally renowned as a designer of healing gardens, to create an architectural rendition of the garden. In 2003, Kate captured the vision in a beautiful design and portrayed the space as “rooms” within the garden, in the hope that there will be a garden environment suited to most people who enter, and at the very least an all-encompassing sense of peace and well-being. A visitor may walk through each “room” as one feels drawn on any given day.
Work Progress to Date
Because of the generosity of donors, the rose arbor, the fountain, the pedestal, the Zen Room, and the concrete path have been completed! In addition, concrete benches and flower pots have been purchased. According to Sr. Brenda however, approximately $150,000 is still needed to complete the project.
How is the Garden going to be Completed?
The garden will be completed in phases as donated funds become available. Keeping the integrity of the garden “rooms” over the years will be critical. Donation of funds rather than donation of flowers, plants, trees, furniture etc., are being requested. A catalogue of flowers, plants, trees and other materials is being created to ensure consistency of the “rooms” in the event there is need for replacement. The major structural items to be purchased include (all cost amounts are estimates):
- Sound System and Lighting - $12,000
- Statues - $3,000
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- A waterfall flowing under bridge into pond
approximate cost: $35,000
- Encasing and securing the Gold Rush sculpture - $500
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- A small wooden bridge
approximate cost: $1,800
- Three dimensional painting of concrete walls
(cost unknown as of now)
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- Five (5) benches, two (2) chairs and one (1) small table - $2,000
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- Plants and flowers - $2,000
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All money for this project is being collected through donations. Mercy’s capital funds are not being used. You are invited to help make this garden a reality by making a donation toward its completion. It will be a sacred space that all of us can enjoy for years to come.
Use the donation forms available at the top of this page to support the Healing Garden Project. If you would like more information please contact us at MercyFoundationNorthContactUs@chw.edu or call 530.247.3424.
