Eucharist Garden: A sanctuary for Holy Week

The Garden of Eukaristiya and the Cross Tower at the Archbishop’s Residence. (CDN PHOTO/TONEE DESPOJO)

AMID the bustle of Cebu City’s roads and streets lie a modern-day oasis of prayer and silence called the Eukaristiya — Garden of Thanksgiving.

Located inside the Archbishop’s Residence along D. Jakosalem Street, the garden provides visitors a sanctuary to meditate the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

In the garden are life-sized images depicting the Stations of the Cross, an amphitheater with an image of the risen Lord, and a 40-meter high Cross Tower.

The landmark also features a pathway surrounded by a pond called Walk on Water which connects the garden and the Cross Tower, as well as Prayer Intention Bells which are traditionally used to make a joyful sound for the Lord.

The garden was originally created as one of the commemorative sites for the 51st International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) and Cebu’s lasting legacy of faith.

Last Jan. 25, the second day of the Congress, the garden was blessed by Yangon Archbishop Charles Maung Cardinal Bo, the pope’s representative in the IEC.

“The Eukaristiya garden is not a travel spot where one can enjoy sightseeing. This is a sanctuary for prayer and meditation,” said Msgr. Roberto “Boy” Alesna,  chairman of the IEC 2016 Finance Committee who supervises the creation of the landmark.

The garden is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. But on Good Friday, it will accommodate pilgrims until 8 p.m.

Before entering the garden, Alesna advised visitors to drop by the Information Center where candles and petition papers are available.

To keep the solemnity of the place, he advised visitors to dress and act accordingly as they enter the premises of the garden.

If one feels the urgent need to talk longer, Alesna said they should do it outside so as not to disturb others.

Use of props or instruments such as flags, banners, sticks, microphones, and musical instruments are prohibited.

“People who come in groups are encouraged to do their prayers or worships silently among themselves,” Alesna said.

Bringing of food and drinks inside the garden is also not allowed. Pilgrims are also asked not to walk on the grass and sit on the life-sized statues.

“Respect everyone in the garden and the garden itself. Follow the rules and reflect in peace with Jesus as you walk from the start to the endpoint of the Eukaristiya,” Alesna said.

At the garden’s entrance is a striking view of the Eternal Flame, a stone reminder of Jesus Christ being the light of the world.

The journey starts with a sculpture of Jesus’ agony in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Afterwards, pilgrims can traverse the 14 Stations of the Cross with sculptures by local artist Vic Gulane.