IUP Hosting Annual Healing Garden Memorial Service May 5

Indiana University of Pennsylvania's Council on Spiritual and Religious Life will host the annual Healing Garden Memorial Service at the Healing Garden on May 5 at 11:30 a.m.

The garden is in the courtyard of Gealy W. Wallwork Hall. The event is open to all, regardless of religious affiliation.

The short service is nondenominational and is designed to honor and remember people who members of the IUP community have lost over the past year.

IUP's Council on Spiritual and Religious Life includes representatives from the IUP and Indiana faith communities who are spiritual or religious life advisors, clergy or designated lay leaders, and IUP community representatives from IUP religious student organizations.

Its mission is to publicize the breadth of spiritual and religious programming to make students aware of opportunities, to enable students of different faiths to participate in programs together for education and respect, to assist new spiritual and religious groups in obtaining official student organization recognition, and to provide support to IUP community members in times of emergency or crisis.

The Council on Spiritual and Religious Life planted the Healing Garden more than a decade ago. In addition to the annual spring memorial service, the Council holds a fall planting event, when members of the community are invited to plant a flower bulb and write their loved ones' name in the Healing Garden memorial book.

"The Healing Garden is a very peaceful place, where anyone can come at any time," Council member and Spiritual Life Advisor Elizabeth Weigner said. "Students tell us that they find comfort and peace during the fall planting event and the memorial service, and we are very pleased to continue these events. While there is sadness in loss, we have been so impressed with the love and support that the IUP community has shown to each other through the Healing Garden events," she said.