Saints throughout the ages are known to have contemplated the mysteries of the faith while spending time in God’s creation. Two recent additions to St. Joseph Gardens, north of St. Joseph Catholic Church in North Bend, enhance this special place for such spiritual reflection. Effectively a private park, the seven-acre gardens were dedicated Sept. 14 to commemorate a new, large wooden cross and a 10 Commandments display.

St. Joseph Church purchased the land (the former site of Taylor High School) in 2014 with an eye toward creating something for the church and community. At first, it was simply the site of expanded parking for St. Joseph Church, but over the years, parishioners and volunteers, many of them working on Eagle Scout projects, added to the location. It now includes a Stations of the Cross display, stone benches, paved paths, a prayer labyrinth, a statue of St. Joseph and a large open field for events like the parish Easter egg hunt and Octoberfest.

The two newest additions are Eagle Scout projects: Callum Hughes led the 10 Commandments project, and Jacob Taylor was responsible for the timber cross.

Made from an 85-year-old oak tree felled by lightning, the cross was erected on the very spot it stood as a tree, rising 17-feet high and weighing 2,000 pounds. Also sizable, the 10 Commandments are made from stone slabs nearly a foot thick and six-feet-tall.

Bruce Tumlin, a volunteer involved with St. Joseph Gardens from the beginning, said the parish has embraced being a hub for Eagle Scout projects in addition to making its own improvements to the park. In fact, turning the fallen oak into a cross was a combined idea of his and Mike Holscher of Holscher Hackman Garden Center, another volunteer at the site.

“It has grown into St. Joseph Gardens,” Tumlin said. “It’s really became a park-like atmosphere … done with pretty high-quality workmanship. We had started to talk to folks about it … put together a master plan, and a lot of these elements that we had would work really well with Eagle Scout projects. … People started to come forward. We got one scout who did one thing and he liked the experience, so he got a friend involved, and it just kind of spread by word of mouth. We’re on our sixth Eagle Scout project for that property. I think that that says a lot for it in itself.”

Tumlin noted the recent projects’ scale is significant, both in labor and cost. The two scouts raised over $8,000. “These are pretty substantial events that require substantial fundraising and building and constructing,” Tumlin said. “They’re basically creating works of art in some fashion, and that is good for the community and good for the kids.”

St. Joseph Church is part of the Divine Mercy Family of Parishes with Our Lady of the Visitation and St. Jude. Their pastor, Father Don Siciliano, said the entire Family of Parishes is enjoying the newly improved space.

“We are delighted with our additions of a new cross and 10  Commandments  display  in  our parish park,” he said. “This new shrine that already contains a Stations of the Cross walk and a dedicated shrine to St. Joseph reflects our ongoing commitment to witnessing the Catholic faith in our community and providing a serene place for contemplation and prayer. … It is our hope that this park and its shrines encourage visitors to live a life faithful to Christ and His teachings and to be a witness to His love, compassion and mercy to others.”

St. Joseph Gardens is private property owned by St. Joseph Church in North Bend, but Tumlin said the public is welcome to visit the space, respecting through their actions the site’s prayerful nature.

This article appeared in the October 2024 edition of The Catholic Telegraph Magazine. For your complimentary subscription, click here.