The Future Vision of The Joyful Child Atrium
Over many years, a plan has been developing. It is of an oasis, a place to get away for a moment. It is a place of community, a place of rest, it is time with the Lord. For the children, it is the Atrium experience, nature study, and hand work. For the adults, it is a comfortable couch and a cup of tea, a chance to meet with friends, or an afternoon outside in the sunshine. For all, it is quiet, it is solitude, it is time with the Lord.
Materially, it looks like a monastery. It has an inner courtyard where children can be outside on their own, but safe inside the walls. It has Atria of all levels around the courtyard. There will be a sidewalk surrounding the inner courtyard, which will make for a rosary walk or a place to post the stations of the cross. There is a wonderful parent lounge where parents can rest while their children are in classes. A large multipurpose room for parent meetings, Catechist training, and other classes such as nature study and art will be located on one end , and there must be a chapel.
It will be situated in the country with beautiful views all around, with a creek or pond to enhance the nature study lessons.
It will be not just a place of wonder, but a place to wonder. How beautiful it is to ponder the Lord’s work in one’s life in such a setting, with His creation all around as witness to His glory!
Where to go from here? It is planting time, and many hands make small work. Our Atrium has always been a community project, and this is no different. We need people who:
Over many years, a plan has been developing. It is of an oasis, a place to get away for a moment. It is a place of community, a place of rest, it is time with the Lord. For the children, it is the Atrium experience, nature study, and hand work. For the adults, it is a comfortable couch and a cup of tea, a chance to meet with friends, or an afternoon outside in the sunshine. For all, it is quiet, it is solitude, it is time with the Lord.
Materially, it looks like a monastery. It has an inner courtyard where children can be outside on their own, but safe inside the walls. It has Atria of all levels around the courtyard. There will be a sidewalk surrounding the inner courtyard, which will make for a rosary walk or a place to post the stations of the cross. There is a wonderful parent lounge where parents can rest while their children are in classes. A large multipurpose room for parent meetings, Catechist training, and other classes such as nature study and art will be located on one end , and there must be a chapel.
It will be situated in the country with beautiful views all around, with a creek or pond to enhance the nature study lessons.
It will be not just a place of wonder, but a place to wonder. How beautiful it is to ponder the Lord’s work in one’s life in such a setting, with His creation all around as witness to His glory!
Where to go from here? It is planting time, and many hands make small work. Our Atrium has always been a community project, and this is no different. We need people who:
- can raise money
- know how to work the zoning office
- can lead the project
- are architects and builders
- deal with land development
- can sell this vision to the greater community
- will donate money or land
- will pray for this to come into fruition
- can apply for grants