Holy Family Redemption Gardens: Faith Under the Sun
Abstract
The beautiful new Catholic church of St. Anne & Joachim lies in the far southern part of Fargo. Sullivan Middle/Shanley High School and a new pastoral center sit nearby, separated from the church by a moderately sizable tract of land. A new sanctuary will also soon grace the site. This situation presents two exciting design opportunities for my landscape architecture capstone project. First, the interiors of these buildings provide clergy, parishioners, and students with gracious spaces for worshipping, praying, gathering, and learning. I propose creating spaces outside the doors for people to engage in these same activities during the fair weather months. Second, I propose creating a campus master plan that would incorporate these spaces to unify the current architecture as well as prepare for future developments on the surrounding land.
The aim of this project is to bring the people of today, who live centuries removed from the blessed days of our biblical ancestors, into closer touch with the presence of God. Subset goals are threefold: 1)Inspire conversions and affirmations of faith; 2)Strengthen cohesion among the faith community; 3)Encourage respect for the natural environment and all life supported by it. Outdoor spaces unite Sts. Anne & Joachim Church, Sullivan Middle/Shanley High School, and the Diocesan Pastoral Center in a plan to establish an identity of place. A master plan incorporates passive spaces for inspiration and contemplation as well as active spaces for fellowship and ministry. The goal of this project is to create an environment that will awaken people from the realm of being idle listeners to living as introspective thinkers and dynamic participants of faith.