Happy Tenth Anniversary, Avila Gardens!Walking in a garden truly refreshes the soul. The waft of a lily lingers and a colorful array of God’s creativity delights the eyes, peacefully invigorating and restoring the tired spirit. Imagine living in a garden. This beauty is what the residents of Avila Gardens experience daily. Living in this residential home for seniors is like living in a garden –not only of flowers, but also of people who thirst for a deep encounter with God and with one another. Here one finds flowering friendships that last longer than the wilting petals of a pansy – a place where seniors live the fullness of life. Reflecting on the blessings of this community of life-giving love, this garden of peace, one cannot help but give profound thanks.This year marks the tenth anniversary of Avila Gardens. The name “Avila Gardens” has its root in the Carmelite spirituality of St. Teresa of Avila. The word carmel means garden. Following the tradition of Mt. Carmel in the Holy Land, Carmelites spiritualized the word to mean a spiritual garden where God dwells. Our local convents are called Carmels. Avila Gardens too is a “carmel” where union with God develops and residents strive to love one another as Jesus teaches us in the Gospels. While flowers fade without sun and nourishment, our residents bask in the “Son-light” of Jesus who nourishes them with His very Body in the Eucharist. The chapel of Avila Gardens is a lovely dwelling place to encounter God. The residents participate in daily Mass and rosary devotions as well as weekly adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. In Avila’s chapel, God is available any time of the day, for as St. Teresa teaches us, “Prayer is a conversation with Him whom we know loves us.” During the past ten years, many people have derived benefit from this lovely house of the Lord. Garden denotes living organisms, and Avila Gardens is just that. It is a dynamic place where sharing the fullness of life occurs on a daily basis. Budding relationships between friends blossom into “forget-me-not” friendships. One friendship that bears mention is that of Mary Jo Herzog and Kathleen Murphy Ondik. Since their meeting in 2006, a friendship of faithful love is apparent. Mary Jo and Kathleen share daily meals in the dining room and play competitive games of cribbage, cards, bingo, and anything else that offers lots of excitement. Mary Jo has a heart of gold and truly cares about each soul she encounters. She has the fidelity and constancy that anyone would wish for in a true friend. Though Mary Jo makes friends easily, she will never doubt that Kathleen is a remarkable woman who brings joy into the daily lives of many people. Mary Jo Herzog says, “The day I moved in I saw a car with a sign around the license plate that read “Bingo Bama.” Deep down I was hoping to get to know the person. Well, that person turned out to be Kathleen Murphy. She found out I like bingo. We enjoy being together. Kathleen has a gift to lighten the weight of any dreary day. Her laughter is contagious and there is no one who can tell a story like she can. She’s just fun to be with and gets along with everybody. Kathleen is very family oriented; she is honest, loyal, faithful and true. The Lord blessed me doubly by finding Avila Gardens and a beautiful friend.” At the foundation of their friendship lies a common faith in Christ. In times of struggle they depend on one another. During a frightful battle with cancer, Kathleen found genuine support in her true friend Mary Jo. Kathleen fondly says, “This place would not be the same without my friend Mary. As I settled in at Avila Gardens, I met this real nice looking young gal sitting alone in the dining room. We began to sit together at meals. Once we got acquainted, I realized what a sincere, helpful, faithful friend I found in Mary. In my estimation, her likes are my likes, and she is so rich in her life of faith. I thank God for the gift of her friendship. If you have a friend like Mary, then you have a true friend. She’s the best bingo player in town – next to me!” This is only one example of the many friendships that grow in the garden of Avila. Recently, a resident’s family member said, “Avila is truly a family.” With tremendous gratitude, this family gives glory to God for the countless friendships and blessings that are part of Avila Gardens ten year history. Avila Gardens proves to be more than just a place to live. It is a place of encounter with God and a community of joy where people find in one another genuine friendship rooted in Christ. Avila Gardens looks forward to the blessings of the next decade – especially the seniors that God will bring through its doors. We know many more flowering friendships will flourish, and those souls will benefit from the fullness of life that Avila Gardens offers. |