(5-13-24) An anonymous donor from outside the area has once again blessed another one of our local communities with his gracious gift of building an Angel of Hope Prayer Garden.  On behalf of the donor, Anna Katterhenry, said that the groundwork has begun for an Angel of Hope Prayer Garden in St. Augustine Cemetery, Minster, Ohio.  The Angel of Hope committee has been working with members of the St. Augustine Catholic Church and St. Augustine Cemetery Board for several months to build the Angel of Hope Prayer Garden for St. Augustine Cemetery in Minster, Ohio and surrounding communities.  The committee is planning a dedication ceremony.   

On June 9, 2024, at 12:15 p.m., the Angel of Hope Committee will reveal and dedicate the Angel of Hope located in St. Augustine Cemetery, West First Street, Minster, Ohio.  The dedication of the Angel of Hope at St. Augustine Cemetery is open to all parents, grandparents, or family members that have experienced the death of a child either before or after birth and regardless of the age of the child.  The angel statue honors the lives of all children gone too soon and serves as a place of hope and healing for parents, families, and friends dealing with the loss of a child. 

History of the Angel

The Angel of Hope statue in Minster, Ohio will be one of more than 170 angels across the United States and worldwide.  The original Angel Statue was introduced to the world in the book The Christmas Box, a worldwide bestseller and movie by author Richard Paul Evans.  In the book, a woman mourns the loss of her child at the base of an angel monument.  Though Evans’ story is mostly fiction, the angel monument described in the book once existed but was later destroyed by a flood.  In response to reports of grieving parents that were seeking out the angel as a place to grieve and heal, a new angel monument was commissioned by Richard Paul Evans.  The monument was dedicated on December 6, 1994, corresponding with the date of the child’s death in the story.  

Our Angel, Minster, Ohio

The Angel of Hope Monument and Prayer Garden is being constructed with the hope of providing grieving families a place to remember and honor their children who are gone from our touch.  The anonymous donor has donated the bronze angel, all construction expenses of building the Angel of Hope Prayer Garden to St. Augustine cemetery and community for all individuals to use as a place of peace.  Even though the angel is placed in St. Augustine Catholic Cemetery, is open to all grieving families as a place of healing.  The Angel of Hope Monument will have sidewalks leading to the Angel Monument with bench seating for visitors.  In addition, the Angel Monument may be used as a place of prayer for all individuals visiting the cemetery and to be at peace while thinking of those who are gone from our touch.  

Invitation to the Angel of Hope and Prayer Garden Dedication Ceremony

Who is Invited:  All Who Have Been Touched by The Death of a Child

Date:  June 9, 2024

Time:  12:15 p.m.