the beautiful flowers of saint dominic church

The flowers that adorn the altar and surrounding area of Saint Dominic Church are yours. They are also his, hers and mine. Placed on the altar, in tribute to God's glory, flowers are our gift to God and each other!

Every week, in our church bulletin, there is a note about flowers. A donation toward the liturgical environment can be your way of helping to beautify our church. Your donation may be made to celebrate the memory of a loved one who has gone before us, or as a living tribute to a loved one on a special occasion such as a birth, a birthday, an anniversary or graduation, or as a prayer for someone's return to good health or well being.

The names of those being remembered in a particular week are listed in the church bulletin. All parishioners and visitors attending Mass not only enjoy the flowers, but they are also asked to include those being remembered in their prayers. If you think about it, the gift of flowers unites us in our prayers and thoughtful remembrances of our loved ones.

Please consider making a donation  ($25.00 minimum requested).
Pick up a flower envelope at one of the usher's positions in the back of the church. Print your name, the name(s) of those you wish to honor, whether that person is living or deceased, the occasion or reason, and the date of that occasion. Then enclose your donation and drop the envelope in the collection basket or bring it to the rectory. Please do this at least two weeks in advance of the remembrance date requested.

And now, a few words about God's flowers

Flowers add beauty to our lives. Diverse in color, shape, size and fragrance, they are God's gift to our senses. Even the most casual observer of nature knows that the flower is the most attractive phase in the cycle of plant-life. It is the appealing centerpiece of the landscape around us. Universally appreciated, flowers may be used as an expression of love, joy, happiness, appreciation, respect and reverence. Flowers are used to bring beauty into life's special occasions.

No surprise then, that we carefully choose and arrange flowers in our place of worship.

Which brings us to those who tend the flowers of Saint Dominic Church ?

Historically, flowers have been an important part of the decoration and beautification of our altar at Saint Dominic Church; our surrounding church grounds, too.

As a member of the flower committee for over ten years and currently its chairperson, Carol Mongillo remembers when the group picked flowers for the altar by hand each week, from our own grounds and other places where it was permitted. Now able to speak of it with a sense of humor, Carol recalls the time when the committee placed an abundant harvest of golden rod on the altar during the height of the pollen season! Nothing to sneeze at, that brought about the end of picking wild flowers.

Working with Carol Mongillo are Judy Cillizza who has been at it for about twenty years and Mary Ellen Smolinski who has been dedicated to this volunteer task for about four years.

Each week the committee meets to check out the flowers. They do any necessary cutting or pruning, and, of course, they keep the flowers properly watered to sustain their vitality and beauty. As necessary, flowers are replaced to keep the altar looking as attractive as their collective green thumbs and loving plant care can provide, within the available budget for flowers. So, make a contribution to help buy some flowers for our church.