One of the design drawings for the garden on the Bethany Motherhouse site
motherhouse on the StFX campus to Bethany in 1921.
The sisters are already marking the 100th anniversary by naming a commemorative garden for the former building the Bethany Centennial Garden. The sisters announced the project back in June. They engaged Viridis Design Studio Ltd. to create a welcoming garden space for everyone to capture the historic and spiritual significance of the sacred ground. The Martha story will be highlighted through interpretive panels, landmarks, and salvaged elements from the Motherhouse building. For the landscaping part of the project, the sisters continued the partnership with Dexter Construction Ltd.
Congregation leader Sister Brendalee Boisvert said the Bethany was the home for the sisters, as well as many other people, for a lot of years.
The first phase, including roadways and infrastructure work, is expected to be completed by the end of November 2020.
Only authorized vehicles are allowed on the property for the next two weeks. Construction will be ongoing through next summer and people who regularly walk the property are asked to continue to pay attention to all signage