Rooted in Faith: Cultivating Peace in the WMA Prayer Garden

At Waldron Mercy Academy, we believe that education should nourish both the mind and the soul. For the past two years, Greg Soltis and Bonnie Guarini have been working toward a vision that brings this philosophy to life through the CLEAR Project (Children Liturgy Ecology and Renewal Project). Supported by a generous grant from Villanova University, this initiative has blossomed into our newest campus treasure: the WMA Prayer Garden.

This isn’t just a garden; it is a "living classroom" where science and spirituality meet. By collaborating across the curriculum, our Science and Innovation teachers — Eve Romanowski and Megan Kinson — have joined forces with our Religion department to create a space that unites environmental education with a profound awareness of God’s creation. Located adjacent to our indoor chapel, the garden serves as both a working landscape and an outdoor sanctuary.

A Community Effort The garden is a true labor of love involving students of all ages. Our youngest learners can be found carrying small watering cans to tend to the thirsty plants, while our older students have taken on the heavy lifting of preparing soil beds and planting seedlings. This hands-on involvement ensures that every child feels a sense of stewardship and connection to the Earth.

Resources for Growth To support this physical space, Mr. Soltis and Mrs. Guarini are developing a comprehensive digital library for our faculty. These resources — ranging from prayer services and meditations to grade-specific ecology lessons — ensure that the garden remains a vital part of the WMA experience from preschool through middle school.

A Place to Be Still Our hope is that the garden becomes a sanctuary for the entire WMA family. In a world that often moves too fast, we invite you to step into this space to stop, rest, and hear the voice of God speaking in your heart. Whether it is a class gathering for a prayer service or an individual seeking a moment of peace in the middle of a busy day, the garden is open to all.

We invite you to come and see what we are building. Join us as we watch our garden, and our students’ faith, grow!