ROPER ST. FRANCIS BREAKS GROUND FOR MEDITATION GARDEN: Place for reflection, prayer to open Summer 2008 at St. Francis Hospital

Representatives from Roper St. Francis Healthcare (RSFH), the Sisters of Bon Secours and the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy gathered together today along with project supporters to break ground for a new Meditation Garden to be located under the “cathedral of the oaks” on the West Ashley campus of Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital (BSSF). Phase One of the project, which includes a labyrinth, camellia garden, prayer garden with cascading water fountain and statuary, is set to open in the summer of 2008. The Garden honors the Sisters of Bon Secours and the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy.

“Today marks the realization of a dream we’ve had since moving to this beautiful wooded campus eleven years ago this month,” said Allen Carroll, Chief Executive Officer for BSSF and Senior Vice President for Operations with RSFH. “It’s exciting to be able to move forward and we’re grateful to our generous donors for their support of this wonderful and beneficial project.”

Funded by the Roper St. Francis Foundation and its Roper Xavier or Rx Society, the Meditation Garden’s principal donors are The McQueeney Fund of the Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina, The Molony Family, Mr. and Mrs. John Hoover and The Sonny Mevers Foundation.

Situated beneath a grove of twelve live oak trees and spanning 2.5 acres, Phase One of the Meditation Garden consists of four major elements connected by winding pathways and entry portals. These elements include:

• The McQueeney Labyrinth modeled after the labyrinth found in the floor of Chartres Cathedral of Notre Dame Cathedral,
• A Prayer Garden, complete with cascading fountain and water wall as well as special seating areas to enjoy them, given by Beverly and Jack Hoover in memory of their parents,
• The Sister Margaretta Camellia Garden, sponsored by The Molony Family, featuring fall and winter blooming camellias, hollies and magnolias, and
• A 6-foot sculpture of the living Christ crafted from Indiana limestone to be erected in memory of Margaret McAlister Mevers.
  

“This garden is designed to invite and engage our senses of touch, smell, sight and sound,” said Sanford Byers, AIA, ASLA, with Byers Design Group, LLC, the land planner and landscape designer for the St. Francis Hospital campus since its relocation to the site in 1996. “From cascading water to fragrant flowers and different colors and textures of stone, our goal is to create a special outdoor space for quiet reflection and prayer where hospital patients, visitors, employees, physicians and others will benefit.”

The Roper St. Francis Foundation continues to raise funds for the Meditation Garden and contributions are welcome. Available donor opportunities include the construction of the grand portal, which will serve as the main entry to the garden as well as secondary portals leading to each of the featured elements.

If you are interested in lending support this unique project, please contact the Roper St. Francis Foundation at (843) 720-1205.