Last April, the “St. Francis Garden” was inaugurated at Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Ruwi, Muscat/ Oman, on the occasion of the Franciscan Year declared for the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi.

At the entrance, visitors are invited to walk “a path of faith, simplicity, and love for creation.” The garden is intended as a place of prayer, reflection, and appreciation of nature. A statue of St. Francis, surrounded by flowers, plants, and greenery, is placed right close to the entrance recalling his love for creation and all living beings.

As they walk through the garden, visitors can learn about the life of St. Francis through 14 “spiritual stations,” each featuring an image depicting an episode from his life: from his childhood to his encounter with the leper; from his meeting with the Sultan to the creation of the first Nativity scene; from the Canticle of Brother Sun to his embrace of “Sister Death.” Each station includes a short caption explaining the episode, together with a spiritual message consisting in a prayer, a call to action, and a Bible verse.

During his visit, Bishop Paolo Martinelli, Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia, was accompanied by the parish priest, Fr. Stephen Lewis, and members of the Parish Council. At the end of the visit, he expressed his appreciation for the initiative, which marks such an important anniversary, and underlined the importance of making St. Francis better known for his profound message of peace, dialogue, and love for all creation.

The garden is always accessible to the faithful as an inspiring and peaceful corner for prayer and reflection.