I am out of town the balance of this week and will return on Saturday.   Next time I will have available will be next week evenings.  

Spring 2012 Begins

Winter 2011-2012 - Not Much Snow

THE VISION - How It All Started

Welcome to St Joan of Arc Powell OH Wilderness Outreach Program.  It is the hopes of St Joan of Arc that this program help engage parishioners and friends of St Joan of Arc Catholic Church into a program that fosters a stronger community.  The physical location of this area extends to the west end of the St Joan of Arc Catholic Church Campus, which is one mile south of Powell, OH on Liberty Road.  Background: Father Larussa and Steve Helmrich while walking through the area for the first time, shortly after the church purchased the "Land North Property", both shared very similar visions. They both immediately agreed on a vision of a worship / meditation area where parishioners and visitors would feel comfortable to visit for solitude while appreciating some of the natural gifts HE has given us.  The vision at that time was to develop a worship area ideal for mass and a worship walkway which would include the Stations of the Cross. 

Most all of the clearing, construction and building is done with volunteers and most of the plants are gifts given to us from parishioners wanting to share some of their own back yard plants.  The gifts from the St Joan of Arc community has been overwhelming.  Your efforts are making it possible to open up this beautiful area as St Joan of Arc’s Worship/Meditation Area.  Everyone's gifts of Time, Talent and Treasures are most appreciated.  May the Holy Spirit bless you in a special way for your generosity.  

His Beauty Speaks to Each of Us in a Different Way.

Construction Done in 2010-2011

Much of 2011 was devoted to projects necessary to satisfy the DNR and EPA requirements.  Those projects included clearing and chipping up 6 acres of Bradford pears trees (considered noxious by DNR standards), removal of most of the tree stumps so the area could be mowed, removal of the thicket overgrown with honeysuckle bushes (also considered noxious by DNR), cut down of the poision ivy which was killing trees,  gathered the tree and brush debris into a large mulch piles, enlarged a wet-land area as directed by the DNR, cutting down dead ash trees, removal of old wood, seeded fescue and blue grass in some barren areas, planted some 500 bulbs, some 30 ornamental grass clumps, 3 blue spruce evergreen trees, cleared out most of a 1/4 mile worship walkway and marked out 14 areas for Stations of the Cross.  2011 was a busy year.  We appreciate everyone's help to clean up this area so many can appreciate the beauty He has given us.  THANKS.