• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Elizabeth Scalia
          • Michael R. Heinlein
          • Effie Caldarola
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Mark Viviano
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
        • CR Radio
        • Protagonistas de Fe
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
The Crucified Christ Prayer Garden at St. Marks' Church in Catonsville is a reminder of the sacrifice made for us according to a statement from the parish. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

Catonsville garden dedicated to those persecuted for faith and the armed forces

October 22, 2024
By Katie V. Jones
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

CATONSVILLE – Looking up at the large, marble statue of the crucified Christ surrounded by Mary Magdalene, the Blessed Mary and St. Thomas Oct. 16, Trinitarian Father Santhosh George was mindful of the important message conveyed by the symbol.

Trinitarian Father Santhosh George, pastor of St. Mark’s Church, stands with the centerpiece of the parishes Crucified Christ Prayer Garden Oct. 16, 2024, in Catonsville. (K. Jones/CR Staff)

The central piece of St. Mark’s new Crucified Christ Prayer Garden, the statue reflects all the suffering the Lord Jesus had to go through for humanity’s salvation, Father George said. Its place in the garden honors all those who are being persecuted for their faith. A nearby plaque also honors those both living and deceased who served in the armed forces.

“Christians all around the world are suffering because of their belief in Jesus Christ,” the pastor said. “We don’t have that problem in the United States. Even though we can’t be there to help them, we can pray for them.”

The garden is the first in the Archdiocese of Baltimore to be dedicated to persecuted Christians and to those who served in the Armed forces past and present, according to Father George, who blessed it Sept. 28.

Over a year in the making, the garden was first proposed after the parish was given the statue by the Trinitarian religious community. The artwork was formerly located in a Trinitarian cemetery at the now-closed Trinitarian Retreat Center in Pikesville.

Nathan Nardi, director of cemetery operations for the Archdiocese of Baltimore, and his team at New Cathedral Cemetery in Baltimore helped remove the crucifixion statue from the Trinitarian cemetery several years ago as they also relocated more than 40 graves to New Cathedral Cemetery. At the time, he said, the cross was broken in several pieces as were the arms of Jesus. When the statue was given to St. Mark, Nardi’s team had the Jesus statue repaired, and a new cross made.

“He’s very fragile, a standalone piece,” Nardi said of the Jesus figure, which hangs on the cross by a latch on its back.

Everything – including the three other statues that had been put in storage – was power washed and polished before being set in place at St. Mark.

“It was community building … with prayers, finances and sharing of their time to come together,” Father George said, of the project, which cost roughly $46,000.

Funding came from many “very generous donations” as well as through the sale of bricks, which were inscribed with the donors’ names and now form a cross in the middle of the garden. Benches circling the garden feature the names of donors, too.

The United States and Papal flags are displayed on a small monument dedicated to the Crucified Christ Prayer Garden at St. Mark’s Church in Catonsville. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

“There was nothing here,” Father George said, as he gazed around the garden. “This whole new area can be for prayers.”

This past summer, the garden was used for Wednesday evening prayers and Father George celebrated Mass there for the youth ministries. Cookies and coffee have been offered on occasion in the garden after Saturday morning Masses, too. Many people, Father George said, stop to pray after weddings, funerals and baptisms at the church and he has seen an occasional passerby stop, too.

“This prayer garden is a reminder to all of the significant love of Jesus to those who drive by, walk by or sit on one of the benches and gaze at the Crucified Christ,” Father George said.

Email  Katie V. Jones at kjones@CatholicReview.org

Editor’s note: This story was updated Oct. 24 to add information about New Cathedral Cemetery.

Read More Local News

OLPH’s fourth eucharistic procession, set for June 21, ‘speaks to the heart’

Franciscan Sister Francis Anita Rizzo, who served in Baltimore for 18 years, dies at 95

Hundreds gather at Rebuilt Conference 2025 to ‘imagine what’s possible’ in parish ministry

Radio Interview: Dominican sister at Mount de Sales shares faith journey from astrophysics to religious life

Mount de Sales Dominican sister shares journey after pursuing science, finding faith 

Words spell success for archdiocesan students

Copyright © 2024 Catholic Review Media

Print Print

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

Primary Sidebar

Katie V. Jones

Click here to view all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

| MOST POPULAR |

  • Religious sisters played role in pope’s formation in grade school, N.J. province discovers

  • With an Augustinian in chair of St. Peter, order sees growing interest in vocations

  • Hundreds gather at Rebuilt Conference 2025 to ‘imagine what’s possible’ in parish ministry

  • Indiana Catholic shares story of his life-changing bond with friend who is now Pope Leo

  • Washington Archdiocese announces layoffs, spending cuts, restructuring

| Latest Local News |

OLPH’s fourth eucharistic procession, set for June 21, ‘speaks to the heart’

Franciscan Sister Francis Anita Rizzo, who served in Baltimore for 18 years, dies at 95

Hundreds gather at Rebuilt Conference 2025 to ‘imagine what’s possible’ in parish ministry

Radio Interview: Dominican sister at Mount de Sales shares faith journey from astrophysics to religious life

Mount de Sales Dominican sister shares journey after pursuing science, finding faith 

| Latest World News |

Prayers continue for release of abducted Nigerian priest who recently served in Alaska

Kyiv’s historic cathedral damaged in Russian air strikes

Vatican bank reports increased profits, charitable giving

UN secretary-general meets Pope Leo, top Vatican officials

Call out to Jesus for healing; he will hear you, pope says

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Prayers continue for release of abducted Nigerian priest who recently served in Alaska
  • Kyiv’s historic cathedral damaged in Russian air strikes
  • Vatican bank reports increased profits, charitable giving
  • UN secretary-general meets Pope Leo, top Vatican officials
  • Call out to Jesus for healing; he will hear you, pope says
  • Movie Review: ‘How to Train Your Dragon’
  • Yes, it’s our war, too
  • OLPH’s fourth eucharistic procession, set for June 21, ‘speaks to the heart’
  • Home viewing roundup: What’s available to stream and what’s on horizon

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2025 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

en Englishes Spanish
en en