Projects
Jennings Grotto
Our Lady of Guadalupe
How do you tell first your pastor, then a group of people that when you were about 6 years old you saw Mary (yes, the mother of Jesus) in a corner of the grocery store while you were shopping with your mom? It took 50+ years and many signs for me to muster up enough courage to do it. The final push was when my husband, who knew nothing about my childhood vision, mentioned that he dreamed the same grocery store was a church and we were inside! He seemed to remember something about stone in the dream. This led me to reveal my secret about seeing Mary in that same store over 50 years before. Soon I began connecting many dots—Our Lady of Guadalupe repeatedly revealing herself to me through different signs and people. I’m filled with so many different emotions, fear, excitement, guilt, love and anxiety. I seem to struggle with making much progress with a grotto for Our Lady of Guadalupe. But I am committed and I will not give up!!
Progress to date:
Told my husband about it
Told my pastor about it
Told the owner of the grocery store about it
Met with 3 people who were revealed to me at Mass
Told my children & their spouses about it
Told friends about it
Formed Facebook group
Held a meeting and told group about it
Group visited site
Told other priests about it
Told random people as I’ve felt led to
Response: Positive and encouraging
Self-evaluation: Lots of talk, little action
Plan: Meet with pastor for advice for moving forward
Stations of the Cross
One day as I walked around our property admiring the oak trees, the thought occurred to me that it would be pretty awesome to have the stations of the cross on the trees. Years later a friend mentioned that she and her neighbors were having a neighborhood Way of the Cross. It reminded me of my idea for our trees.
She triggered a new idea—what if the Stations of the Cross were not only on our trees, but also on the trees which lined our street? This would allow people to walk/ride down our street and stop at each designated tree to meditate. The timing was perfect. Churches were closed due to Covid so this would offer an alternative. All it took to get this project off and running was forming a Facebook group for my neighborhood. Everyone was so helpful. Some allowed us to use their trees; some donated supplies of wood, palms & ribbon; some worked to build and install the Crosses; others supplied and printed pictures to identify each station. Within a few days the project was complete! It was heartwarming to see the many people who took time to meditate at these stations. It was definitely worth the effort! Neighbors make great teams!