Man helps sisters create a place of peace

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Not many places on Linton Hall Road offer a place for meditative solitude. Yet, the Sisters at the Benedictine Monastery seek to do just that with labor, love and volunteers.

Since 2005, volunteer Ron Cloer, owner of Gold Cup Designs landscaping, has helped the Sisters work toward their goal. Committing 35 to 40 hours per month, Cloer has helped transform 5 to 7 acres of the 110-acre property into the Place of Peace, part of the Benedictine Pastoral Center.

“The sisters want a place of peace. I told them they already had it. But we want to enhance it,” Cloer said.

He has helped design three loops: a Tranquility Loop, a Peace Loop and a Monastic Loop.

The Tranquility Loop begins at the guesthouse and includes a woodland trail leading visitors through the Stations of the Cross. Cloer would like the path to end in a meditation garden.

The Peace Loop contains memorial trees planted by members of Compassionate Friends, an organization supporting grieving parents. Already, 17 to 18 parents have sponsored trees under which memorials for deceased children mark a place for parents’ love.

The second section of the Peace Loop includes the Benedictine Shrine, a butterfly garden, a wildflower garden, a pine grove, a fountain of peace, an arbor way and a labyrinth.

The labyrinth is laid on the ground in stone, much like a patio. Cloer said that while most people think of a labyrinth as a modern day maze, this one is a visual meditation leading visitors to a center point designed to “bring your focus inward.”

The labyrinth lies beneath two silos redesigned into what Cloer described as “outdoor cathedrals.” A column of stained glass adorns the silo walls from entryway to top. The roofs of the silos have been removed, and inside, stone flooring and a bench provide a place where visitors can look up at the sky.

Still in construction is the Forgiveness Garden. Right now, a rough wooden cross sits amidst trees. Cloer said a pile of stones will be available for visitors to place at the base of the cross to symbolize giving resentment up to Jesus who can help all to forgive.

Cloer also plans to add Peace Poles on which, in several languages, will be written, “May peace prevail.”

The Monastic Loop has been designed for the sisters and is generally not open to the public. The loop includes the monastery gardens, a vegetable garden and a patio.

Sister Patricia Hagarty (known as Sister Pat) has taken on much of the gardening. She maintains about 25 gardens of various flowers and plants. Sister Pat said she has so many gardens to care for, she has created a spreadsheet to help her keep track of which plants need attention and which must be replaced.

Sister Pat also said everyone is welcome to visit the center, which she described as non-denominational.

Besides visitors, the sisters host master gardening classes provided by Virginia Tech. Various organizations come for tours, bee-keepers raise honey bees and groups have held picnics on the lawns.

“We want people to come out and enjoy it,” said Sister Pat.

Since the monastery property is private, though, the sisters do ask visitors to check in at the main office.

Pictures and more information can be found at www.placeofpeaceosb.org.