Images of the new space above and, below, images before work started on the project
Images of the new space above and, below, images before work started on the project
The Lasallian Leavening Fund has helped St Helens De La Salle School plant seeds of hope as we look to protect our common home with a project that supported students from the ASC Base in refurbishing the school's rooftop.
The aim was to provide a calm and pleasant space for staff and students, engage some of our more challenged young people and produce small amounts of crops for the kitchen.
In the spirit of Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’ and his Jubilee Year call for “lively hope and deep faith,” our Lasallian community recently completed a meaningful project that brings together care for creation, community, and contemplation. Thanks to a generous Lasallian Leavening Fund donation, we were able to purchase new plants and outdoor furniture to enhance our school’s prayer garden — transforming it into a sacred space that invites peace, reflection, and environmental stewardship.
The idea for this project was born from the deep inspiration found in Laudato Si’, Pope Francis’ encyclical on care for our common home. It reminds us that protecting the environment is a moral and spiritual imperative. Guided by this vision and the call to respond to the Jubilee Year with acts of hope and faith, our school community saw an opportunity to create a living space that reflects these values.
On Tuesday June 24th as part of our Mission Week the whole school community came together as part of a ‘drop down’ day focused on the environment. Students participated in different activities throughout the day, learning more about their duty to care for our common home through Catholic Social Teaching. The community went on a site-wide litter pick called the ‘big clean’, they also heard from various guest speakers on the topic.
The Lasallian Leavening Fund allowed us to purchase a variety of native and pollinator-friendly plants that not only beautify the garden but also support local biodiversity. With the help of students and staff, we planted flowering shrubs, herbs, and trees — all chosen for their ability to thrive in our climate and provide a peaceful, natural setting for prayer and meditation.
New benches and seating areas were also installed, offering a place where students and staff can gather quietly for reflection, prayer services, or simply to enjoy moments of calm amid the busy school day.
As a Lasallian school, we are deeply committed to forming young people who are not only academically capable but also spiritually grounded and socially responsible. This outdoor prayer garden is now a visible and growing symbol of that mission. It offers our community a chance to pause, reconnect with nature, and be reminded of our shared responsibility to care for one another and the world around us.