Tucked nearby churches and schools, vibrant gardens in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia are doing more than just growing vegetables. With every shovel of soil and every harvest basket, these parishes are answering Christ’s call to love and serve.
At St. Katherine of Siena Catholic School in Northeast Philadelphia, the seeds of a new initiative are beginning to bear fruit – literally.
Holy Family of Nazareth Sister Daniela Bronka, the school’s principal, helped launch an eight-bed garden project this spring, inspired by a similar program she saw flourish at a school in Pittsburgh.
“It was a beautiful school garden,” she recalled. “When I returned to Philadelphia, I knew I wanted to use our school’s space to create something just as meaningful.”
With support from the school board, the school applied for a grant through Green Philadelphia, a city initiative led by the mayor’s office. The funding came through in April – later in the season than ideal – but that didn’t stop the students from diving in.
Sister Daniela invited students in grades three to seven to join a new Garden Club, and 23 students eagerly signed up.
“It was my hope that they could do something hands-on in addition to academics and sports,” she said.
Because there wasn’t time to start plants from seed, the students filled the newly built beds with dirt and planted purchased seedlings – tomatoes, peppers, and squash among them.
“It was very educational for them,” Sister Daniela said. “They were excited to build the garden beds, fill them up, and they asked so many questions along the way.”
Though students are currently on summer break, some return with their families to visit the school office and pick up fresh vegetables to enjoy at home.
Plans for the fall include harvesting squash, planting a winter garden with carrots, garlic, and onions, and hosting a local beekeeper to teach students about pollination. The school also plans a harvest feast in November, where students will “taste what they have grown.”
Looking ahead, Sister Daniela hopes to expand the program by adding more garden beds, growing Garden Club membership, and eventually sharing their harvests with parishioners and neighbors in need.
“I hope this (club) is going to keep growing,” Sister Daniela said.
Produce from the Matthew XXV Garden at St. Cornelius Parish supports the Dorothy Day Center in West Chester.
At St. Cornelius Parish in Chadds Ford, their flourishing garden is now in its fifth year. The Matthew XXV Garden, named after the Gospel call to “feed the hungry,” is coordinated by a team of four parishioners: JoEllen Muntz, her husband Steve, Laurie Hays and Regina Smith.
They work with 35 volunteers who lend a hand during planting and harvest seasons. Those unable to physically help contribute in other ways, such as donating seeds, plants, or funding.
The garden – more than 100 feet long – expanded by 30 feet this year. It produces a wide array of crops, including tomatoes, tomatillos, zucchini, yellow squash, cucumbers, chard, cantaloupe, watermelon, many herbs, and a variety of peppers.
All produce is delivered to the Dorothy Day Center at St. Agnes Parish in West Chester, which supports the basic needs of the poor and homeless.
Throughout the year, the parish community stays involved. In February and March, students in the religious education program help plant seeds in small cups, which are nurtured in a church greenhouse or even in one coordinator’s home until they’re ready for planting.
High school students from Bishop Shanahan, Padua Academy, and local public schools have also contributed time and energy, often earning service hours through the National Honor Society. Adults join in too, especially for big cleanups and seasonal prep.
Beyond its practical mission, the Matthew XXV Garden is also a space for reflection and prayer. The garden is lined with prayer plaques, a kiosk offers prayer pamphlets inspired by St. Francis of Assisi and Pope Francis, and a little free library contains children’s books, making the garden a place of community.
Visitation B.V.M. School students at the No Greater Love Garden in Norristown, which donates thousands of pounds of produce each year to the Patrician Society.
At Visitation B.V.M. Parish in Norristown, the No Greater Love Garden has become a powerful example of community collaboration and mercy in action. Launched in 2022 and now in its fourth year, the organic garden combines in-ground and raised bed plots to grow cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, squash, and flowers to attract pollinators.
All food is donated to the Patrician Society in Norristown, which serves elderly residents, homeless individuals, and low-income families. Last year alone, the garden yielded over 7,000 pounds of fresh food.
The garden is a true parish-wide effort. Its committee includes 15 members, many of whom are Penn State Master Gardeners or part of the Norristown Garden Club.
Students from Visitation B.V.M. School start seeds each February in the school’s greenhouse.
Boy Scout Troop #369 Cub Scouts assist with harvesting and weeding, and the Eagle Scouts have built structures including cold frames and produce shelving.
A spiritual element also anchors the garden. A 14-foot crucifix stands at the garden’s center surrounded by benches, and Stations of the Cross plaques surround the garden’s perimeter, creating a space for contemplation and prayer.
Parishioners come for weekly Wednesday evening harvests, and a family-friendly “Sundaes on Sundays” draws parish families together to pick vegetables and enjoy a scoop of ice cream.
“The garden has brought us together,” said Nancy Sliner, a garden committee member. “It’s been an evolution.”
These parish gardens, each unique, are bound together by a shared purpose: to be a living expression of Jesus’ call to serve others, while strengthening the bonds of faith and community.
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