Since 1928, the Maryknoll Sisters have called the East side of Pinesbridge Road their home. Nearly 70 acres constitutes the Center, a majority of which remains as a natural forest. The parts that have been developed were beautified with trees, flowers, and natural greenery. At its heart is a connection to the natural world and all the beauty of the Earth. In celebration of the Sisters’ connection with nature, The Maryknoll Archives created the Maryknoll Sisters Center Walking Tour!
This Walking Tour is an immersive and meditative exploration of the Sisters Center and the surrounding grounds. The Tour presents 10 Meditations, featured in short videos, showcasing the grounds of the Sisters Center. Listen as your explore and come to understand the Sisters’ connection with the Earth. You can access the tour directly from this link, or by visiting our Digital Exhibits page.
A Walking Tour for the Sisters
Earlier this year I published a Blog Post about the Society Center Walking Tour, which explored the grounds of the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers. The Society’s tour was focused on uncovering the hidden history and ever changing landscape of their campus. This includes buildings no longer present on the property and others that have changed significantly over the years. When it came time to create a tour for the Sisters Center, I wanted to make a unique experience that reflected the Charism of the Maryknoll Sisters.
In recent years, the Maryknoll Sisters have been focusing on the One Earth Community, which promotes the idea that all people are interconnected, one with the Earth and natural world. To celebrate this connection, I decided to add meditative audio reflections, combined with videos showcasing the beauty of the grounds. The Tour combines the history of the Sisters Center with the prayerful reflection and appreciation of nature.
An Informative and Meditative Experience
The Sisters Center Walking Tour offers a combination of history and reflections in each of its entries. The tour is divided into 9 primary key locations at the Sisters Center: Motherhouse, Garden of Beatitude, Centennial Garden, Good Shepherd Shrine, Rogers Building, Sisters’ Cemetery, Conservation Easement, Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto, and Statue of Kateri Tekakwitha. Each location features a series of entries offering information and insight into the history of the grounds. One such example is the entry to the left about Education at the Rogers building. The entry features Mary Rogers College, Maryknoll Mission Institute and a collage of historical photos.
Every location also contains a video exploring the grounds while an audio reflection plays in the background. Each reflection was chosen from records in the Sisters’ Archives, offering a combination of poems, reflections, prayers, and dedications. Most of the reflections are read by the Archives staff, though several Sisters also offered their voices for the project. Check out the Centennial Garden reflection to hear their contribution!
