Garden at Wayside Shrine at St Gabriel the Archangel

Article written by Laura Schuckenbroc, Mothers Branch leader at St. Gabriel the Archangel

I was sitting with Blessed Mother by Her little Wayside shrine of the Annunciation at St Gabriel, one morning after daily mass and rosary in March.  I looked at Her and said: "Blessed Mother, we love you so much and this little garden does not reflect all the love we have for you here at St Gabriel."  What would you like dear Mother, inspire me, and I will do it. Dear Father and Founder, you were always good at knowing God's wishes and doing God's will, please pray that we can give our Mother here in this little shrine a beautiful garden.  Tell me how to go about.

A few days later I followed the inspiration of our dear Father and Founder to call Missy Schwegman, Couples Leader, to talk about helping to enhance the garden.  Missy said "yes" and said she would have Jay, her husband, help us.

At our Mothers' Meeting the first week in April, one of our Mothers, Barbara, sharedthat she loves to look at the roses she has planted in honor of her deceased mother and family members.  I thought: "That's it!" I would ask the Mothers to donate roses in honor of their loved ones.  That weekend Jay Schwegman and I came equipped with with a tiller machine, 12 large bags of mulch and some plants! The whole area was full of donated plants for the garden. What an answered prayer! Thank you, dear father Kentenich!

Jay, his 9 year old daughter, Annie, and I worked all day from 10 AM until 5 PM to finish.  We can truly say it is a beautiful place. Beautiful May blossoms for our Mother and Queen.