Inspiration at root of Mercy Garden

By John Howell
Posted 11/17/16

A snowstorm, a mistake and Pope Francis’ declaration of 2016 as a “year of mercy” all played a role in the creation of a garden at St. Timothy Church featuring a statue of Saint Claudine …

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Inspiration at root of Mercy Garden

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A snowstorm, a mistake and Pope Francis’ declaration of 2016 as a “year of mercy” all played a role in the creation of a garden at St. Timothy Church featuring a statue of Saint Claudine Thévenet.

As Pastor, Fr. Andrew Messina recalled, the seed to the garden was sown on Feb. 3, 2015. It was a snowy day and services at the church were canceled. Fr. Andrew knew the sisters of the Congregation of the Religious of Jesus and Mary (RJM) who live in the convent across from the church on Lakeshore Drive would be disappointed. Bracing himself against the storm, he visited the convent and celebrated a special mass in the convent chapel. He was touched by the story of Claudine who founded the Congregation of the Religious of Jesus and Mary. Fr. Andrew took an interest in her small statue in the convent.

Saint Claudine’s story is one of forgiveness and devotion to teaching and caring for poor young girls during and following the French Revolution. Claudine was born on March 30, 1774 in Lyon, France. It was a tumultuous time in France, and at the age of 19 she watched as her two brothers were brutally executed for their devotion to Catholicism. One of them slipped a note to a servant as he was being led to his death that was given to her. It read, “Forgive Glady as we forgive.” Glady was Claudine’s nickname.

The event is described in the history of the congregation as a decisive turning point in her life, leaving her with deep anguish to seek what best could be done to experience the goodness of God. She, together with other young women, began a clandestine apostolate: “to relieve the suffering, show charity those left downtrodden, to bring God into their lives, to know and love Him, even before the war ended.”

Sister Vivian Patenaude, RJM, provincial superior at the convent, was impressed by Fr. Andrew’s interest in Claudine, and the two started talking about how Claudine’s devotion and spirituality might inspire others.

When Pope Francis declared 2016 as the Year of Mercy, the idea of finding a statue of the saint as the focal point of a church garden took root.

Sister Vivian said several attempts to locate a statue ended in disappointment until she reached Sr. Fabian, RJM, provincial superior of our Province in Bolivia, who knew a man who had made a statue for St. Raymond’s School in New York. Maybe he could make one for St. Timothy Church.

Sr. Fabian contacted the man and was surprised to learn he had made two of the fiberglass statues by mistake.

“She was just standing there waiting for us,” said Sr. Vivian.

Fr. Andrew suggested, “There were no mistakes in having the mercy garden come together.”

Sr. Vivian and Fr. Andrew recalled their joy when not only had a statue been located but also that it could be bought for $75. The amount turned out to actually be $750, an error made in the conversion from pesos to dollars. That made it more of a stretch, but not impossible. And then there was the challenge of getting the statue from Bolivia to Rhode Island.

After some time, a couple that was visiting the congregation in Bolivia carried the statue on their flight to the state of Washington. From there they had it shipped to Warwick as a gift. After its arrival on April 2, a parish committee was named to plan for the Mercy Garden. A site near the side entrance to the church was selected where the statue stands on the center of a bench. In front, raised so it can be easily read, is a short history of the saint’s life. Claudine died in 1837. She was beatified on Oct. 4, 1981 by Pope John Paul II. The garden was dedicated on Sunday, Nov. 6.

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