by Sr. Barb Smith, ASC
A field of grass returns to a garden holding a legacy of five ASC sisters whose lives witnessed the ultimate gift of themselves. On the 25th anniversary of the death of the Martyrs of Charity in 2017, a memorial garden was established at the Wichita Center. A plot of ground was marked off by five rings representing the five martyrs who gave their lives in Liberia, West Africa in October of 1992.
The Heimerman Science Center on the Newman campus was being torn down to make room for the new science center and the nine silver rings were removed prior to the demolition. They were acquired by Greg Lohkamp, Wichita Center Administrator, Srs. Edwina Pope and Susan Welsby and were placed in the garden. Five rings recognized the five martyrs on the south end of the garden and four silver rings represented the four corners of the world to which the ASC’s presence had spread over the years as a congregation.
Then COVID struck and attention was placed on the care of the sisters and keeping everyone safe and the memorial garden was left unattended. In the spring of 2025 Srs. Josie Mendoza and Barb Smith began to try to bring it back to life. With the help of Fr. Tom Welk, the weed guard netting which had weeds on top and on the bottom was taken up and removed.
The garden was extended to include the four circles which were set off from the garden initially. The ground was cleared, and the embedded grass was dug up, which took several months to accomplish. A border of stones was placed all around the garden and perennial flowers were planted along the border. An arch using stones from the area was created in front and behind the five circles so that flowers that attract butterflies and bees could be planted in that area. In the spring, buffalo grass will be planted that will help maintain the area in the middle of the garden and allow for the perennials to spread.
A bench was set on a platform as well as a small, cemented walkway into the garden. Fr. Tom had a sign made which identified the garden and honored the five Martyrs of Charity. Solar lights were the final addition that really added to the beauty of this memorial garden, making it a place of prayer and reflection both day and night.
On October 23, 2025, an evening prayer service was held on the terrace honoring the Martyrs of Charity and Faith. Many sisters were able to come to the terrace and then processed with walkers and wheelchairs to the garden to join Fr. Tom in blessing the garden. Those sisters who were not able to come to the terrace prayed in Caritas and they blessed a bowl of dirt that was brought out to the garden where it was scattered as blessing.
There was much excitement around the renewal of this garden and many of the sisters would walk out to see the accomplishments that were happening daily. To our delight, we also had some special supervisors who encouraged us and worried about us in the extreme heat of the summer and were our cheerleaders to keep up the beautification work of the ASC Martyrs Memorial Garden.
“These women, Adorers, have walked the road before us in love of the Gospel. They are our strength; we their hope. They are our seed; we, their fruit. They are our past; we, their future. Their lives now join the martyrs of many lands, and we join the dreamers of the dream. O deep and inspiring Spirit of God, come with your people who, through suffering, dream toward the dawn. Amen.”
This was the closing prayer of the prayer service and was adapted from A Kaleidoscope of Precious Blood Prayer.
