New flower ministry blooms and evangelizes during pandemic 

When Jane Lee uprooted her life in Hong Kong to move to Vancouver two years ago, she brought a passion project with her.

Ave Maria Garden is a registered charity in Hong Kong that specializes in bringing people together to create flower arrangements. But for Lee, it’s much more than a place for fans of roses or orchids.

“In our Catholic Church, we use a lot of different things to create an atmosphere in the church so that when we come for Mass or different gatherings, this brings us closer to God,” she said. Using one’s talents to beautify a church “is a kind of sacrifice.”

She believes that sacrifice can also serve the poor, lonely, elderly, and others through generosity and a shared joy of beautiful things.

In that spirit, she planted an Ave Maria Garden ministry at St. Mary’s Parish in Vancouver. As one of its early activities, she invited all single moms, widows, and other members of the parish’s Handmaids of the Lord group to learn how to create flower arrangements and to practise the skill together.

“We hope that we can use flower arrangements as a new skill for them to learn about or probably to make use of to serve other people as well.”

And serve they did. The women created 50 flower arrangements that were delivered to two local seniors’ homes just in time for Christmas in 2019.

By Christmas of 2020, volunteers doubled that record, putting together 100 flower arrangements and 300 greeting cards using donated craft supplies. Some of those volunteers included 30 of Lee’s neighbours and 26 students from a local public school.

“I think this was so amazing because most of them are not Christians,” said Lee. “As we go and reach out to non-Christians, it is a very interesting way for them to get involved, to understand what we do as Christians. It’s all about love and sharing in the community.”

They repeated the flower delivery for seniors just before Valentine’s Day in 2020.

“Flowers are meaningful in so many ways,” said Sarita Pinto, a member of St. Mary’s Parish and volunteer with Ave Maria Garden.

“They are beautiful and they have colour and hope. It’s nice to use that to brighten up people’s lives, especially at this challenging time.”

Patty Mak, a volunteer with international aid organization Chalice and a member of St. Mary’s, was enraptured by the arrangements during a flower sale at the parish three years ago. She picked up a few bouquets, all featuring a statue of Our Lady in the centre, and registered for the group’s next workshop to learn to make them herself.

The workshop began with a few verses of Scripture and a prayer.

“I think it’s so meaningful,” said Mak. “You can learn something and you can gather people together in the community also, and hopefully we can proclaim Jesus and the faith to them at the same time.”

In early 2021, Mak and three volunteers from Ave Maria Garden were able to raise $2,400 for Chalice after creating and selling 73 arrangements and selling them around Valentines’ Day.

“I enjoy doing the flower arrangements. It makes me concentrate and helps me enjoy my ability,” said Mak. “It’s a meaningful ministry because you benefit yourself and other people.”

Since the start of the pandemic, flower workshops have been limited to online videos and creating arrangements alone at home, but Mak is hopeful the group will soon be able to gather once again.

For now, Ave Maria Garden is operating under the umbrella of St. Mary’s Parish and does not have charity status of its own. Lee has applied for local community grants for funding and hopes to eventually branch out to other parishes.

“Why flower arrangement? Because every church has a flower ministry. We have a lot of people from different parishes who have this special talent.”

Lee added as the group expands, she hopes to connect with more charities and groups that serve the underprivileged. “In Hong Kong, what we usually do is work with social workers and associations and community groups who know people in need.”

She hopes to create opportunities for people who face homelessness or food insecurity to gather around a table, learn to arrange flowers, and experience joy in being surrounded by beautiful things.

Ave Maria Garden sources fresh cut blooms through St. Mary’s flower suppliers. They also use silk or preserved flowers in some arrangements, and sometimes include a statuette of Our Lady in the final product.

“We’re able to use this as a tool to attract people to know about God, know about our church,” Lee said. “While doing the flowers, this can be the first opportunity for them to meet our God.”

As volunteer Carolina Rodrigues da Cunha pairs colours and textures, she prays for the people who will eventually receive her flower arrangement.

“Every time I start a job, I pray for all the people of our community and I put my energy to deliver a project with positive intentions to inspire people with God’s love.”

This Mothers’ Day, Ave Maria Garden is selling 100 flower arrangements of real, silk, or preserved flowers, with all proceeds aimed at providing 300 meals for the poor and homeless through a centre in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside called The Door is Open.

More information is available by contacting St. Mary’s or online at facebook.com/AveMariaGardenCanada. Ordered flowers must be picked up May 8.