Beautifying SFX Gardens Is Their Mission
By Ruth Fernandez
One of SFX’s newly formed ministry, the Gardening Team has literally ‘hit the ground running’ since its inception in March 2023. Every Wednesday morning, the industrious members from this ministry can be seen tending to the verdant gardens within the sprawling compound of SFX. The Gardening Team was first set up to rejuvenate and maintain Our Lady of Fatima (OLOF) shrine and surrounding gardens, but has since expanded their coverage to perimeters of the carpark near OLOF as well as Our Lady of Smiles (OLOS) shrine.
Maiden project
The ministry’s inaugural project of sprucing up OLOF was an extensive undertaking. The scope included painting of candle stands and resurfacing the base with new white pebbles. Before painting the stands, residue wax was scraped off the plates and sandpapered. In an effort to discourage the use of white candles which damage the pebble wash surrounding the candle stands, signages were prepared and prominently placed next to Our Lady’s shrine. A canister of tea lights has also been placed at the guard’s table in the church porch.
As a finishing touch, the figurines of Francisco, Jacinta and Lucia were repainted.
Trimming Bamboo Grove
Apart from the weekly routine tasks of sweeping, clearing, trimming, watering, fertilising, weeding and adding leaves to compost bins, the team members also put out their own equipment from a hand blower to aid in clearing the dried leaves and even a chainsaw to cut down overgrown bamboo shoots. If unattended, the towering tree branches and bamboo grove could be a potential hazard to passing parishioners, the OLOF shrine and surrounding lights.
On-going work activities also include re-pot, trim, fertilise, and grow new plants.
Extending the ministry’s outreach
Upon an excellent suggestion by parish priest Fr Norris Seenivasan, SJ, the SFX Gardening Team has reached out to BEC members to organize gardening activities. This is to encourage greater participation in caring for our beautiful church garden and growing together as a family of parishioners. Invitations were extended through the BEC coordinators for more volunteers to join the team.
The SFX Gardening Team has certainly shown that many hands make light work. Slowly but surely, their labour of love shall transform SFX grounds into a serene and splendid oasis of greenery.
The Gardening Team comprises a small but dedicated team:
- Early bird, multi-talented Ann (“Scissorhands”) Tong (treasurer),
- Amiable, iron- willed Adeline (shared her wonderful recipe for composting),
- Enthusiastic Adrain (whose laughter and attitude are so infectious),
- Angelic, hardworking Anne Nair (whose smile lights up the garden),
- Results-oriented Cordelia, working girl, though unable to join our Wednesday jaunts, focuses on the patch in front of the St Francis Xavier statue in the church porch.
- Daredevil, capable, kind, Busy Bee Donovan (our CC),
- Ants-in-her-pants, Jiuan the soul of the team and the one who maps and guides our activities (Secretary)
- Genteel, capable and ever present Jacinta
- Patient Gardener, and Eveready Michael
- Raja “MacGyver” Isaiah focused and reliable
Come and join our SFX Gardening Ministry. It’s satisfying and fun!
For more info, please contact:
Donovan: 010-236 1136
Jiuan: 012-2072335
Ann: 019-323 3883