HOLY MOWERS: Sharing in Fellowship as Faithful Stewards of Our Parish Grounds

First impressions can have a lasting impact. For a church, the grounds are a key part of that first impression. Wellkept lawns and landscaping convey the important message that people care about the church, and are the first sense of welcome that visitors get as they approach.

Ron Morath coordinates a group of volunteers at Christ the King, known as the Holy Mowers. Divided into eight or nine teams, the volunteers take turns mowing the lawn, trimming hedges, and keeping the parking lot free of weeds. Greg Leonard coordinates the teams for St. Jude Thaddeus.

“We maintain nice grounds and it draws people inside,” Ron says. “It gives them an opportunity to come in and then feel welcomed inside our doors. They’re greeted and made to feel at home.”

The teams are made up of all kinds of parishioners. Families, couples, and small groups all do their part to maintain the grounds. Some are retired and have a little extra time on their hands.

“But you never retire from being part of a parish!” Ron says.

The Holy Mowers began out of financial need but over the years has become a way for parishioners to give back to the parish with their talents and treasure.

“People can either give more money or do it themselves,” Ron says. “This is a way for people to get involved that are retired or working. We have some families who bring their boys. It gets the parishioners involved.”

The parish has all of the tools needed for the upkeep, including two riding lawnmowers. The Holy Mowers have a volunteer who maintains the lawnmowers. However, volunteers may bring their own equipment if they prefer. When new volunteers get involved, Ron or another member shows them the ropes before they get assigned a shift.

Ron has found that being involved in this ministry has led to being more involved all around.

“That’s the thing about a small parish,” Ron says. “When you get involved in one thing, you get involved in a lot of things.”

The ministry has led to parishioners stepping up in other areas as well. A couple from Christ the King asked Ron if they could take over caring for the Marian grotto, including repainting the statue of Mary.

Ron enjoys the time he spends maintaining the grounds. What started as time that he wanted to give back to the parish turned into an opportunity for him to have some quiet time for prayer.

“When you’re out here mowing for a couple hours, it’s time to meditate and think about things,” Ron says. “It’s an opportunity to say a Rosary. You don’t have too many interruptions and the lawn mower is too loud for me to hear the phone.”