Ancient rocks radiate symbol of eternal love

WINTER PARK  |  Forty-five-million-year-old igneous rocks now stand surrounded by four Marian statues and hundreds of gravesites at Queen of Angels Cemetery, Phase Two, in Winter Park. The Rock of Our Salvation fountain is a symbol of God’s omnipresence, from creation through eternity.

Installation began Sept. 9, 2024, and took several days of meticulous positioning by artist Robert Wertz and geologist Greg Prescott despite being saturated by frequent rainfall. But Wertz and Prescott began selecting the rocks well before that. Over several weeks, the two visited the Beaver Canyon quarry in the Okanagan Highlands of Washington state numerous times, selecting ideal pieces.

Geologist Greg Prescott stands atop the Beaver Canyon quarry in 2019. Prescott refined the art of drilling through the stones to enable beautiful fountains. (COURTESY GREG PRESCOTT)

Prescott, a veteran geologist of more than 40 years, was first captivated by the aesthetic of the rocks when he discovered them through his late business partner, Bob Jewett. Both seasoned geologists had seen thousands of columns of basalt across the Pacific Northwest and beyond, but none so distinct in shape and coloration. Prescott explained the columns are usually dark and symmetrical, but these tell the story of their formation.

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” Prescott said. “And I know of no other occurrence in the world.”

In a simplified summary, the rock was formed from the lava flow of the Klondike Mountain Formation which poured into a caved in, faulted block of earth near the end of the Tertiary Period, the first age of the Cenozoic Era. “As is typical at the changing of the great geologic eras there was widespread crustal violence,” he explained. “The Mesozoic Era, the age of the reptiles, had just ended, and the Earth was rocked by great upheavals.”

Multiple volcanic eruptions took place, filling the valley. Over thousands of years, the pile of lava flows cooled and in Beaver Canyon, began crystallizing, creating the vibrant colors for which these columns are noted.

The crystalized minerals contain magnesium oxides that create dark swathes, along with iron oxides that create orange and red earth tones that become encapsulated in silica. It is this detail that prevents the rocks from discoloration. Otherwise, you could simply rub the color off. Like human beings, each rock is unique.

“There is a story written there,” Prescott said. Observing how people are drawn to the rock structures, he believes they are “searching for something lasting, permanent, and beautiful” and find elements of that in the rocks.

Each rock has water springing from its center, spilling into a pool beneath it. In Christianity, water represents life and purification. Although many metaphors can be drawn from the fountain beginning with the waters of Baptism bringing new and eternal life, cemetery director for the diocese David Branson had something specific in mind. The idea is that hope springs eternal, calling back to Moses and the Exodus. This stone too harkens back to the creation of the world.

Artist Robert Wertz at the installation of his Rock of Our Salvation Fountain at Queen of Angels Cemetery, Sept. 9, 2024. The igneous rock that forms the fountain is 45 million years old and is part of the Gospel Gardens in Phase 2. (GLENDA MEEKINS)

The Rock of Our Salvation fountain recalls the moment God told Moses to strike the rock in the desert to quench the thirst of the Israelites during the Exodus — who thirsted physically and spiritually. Ex 17:6 reads, “I will be standing there in front of you on the rock in Horeb. Strike the rock, and the water will flow from it for the people to drink. Moses did this, in the sight of the elders of Israel.”

The visual effect of these ancient rocks pouring forth water also makes Christ present, immersing visitors into the New Testament recalling 1 Cor 10:4, “and they drank the same spiritual drink, for they drank from a spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was the Christ.” Both verses will be inscribed on a plaque by the fountain.

The connection is not lost on Wertz. “I’m a believer and when I go out to the quarry, I feel closer to God there than 16 sermons. I look at it as something God created. He created the earth, the universe, beautiful things like this on the planet – most people don’t get to lay their eyes on,” he said.

As the florist at his church, he makes bouquets using the same design principles he uses in designing his structures, considering the elevations, variations, and continuity. “To me it’s a devotional thing in the morning, in the garden, saying, ‘This is for you, Lord. What do you see? Help me see what’s beautiful here. I carry the same thing into this,” he said.

He recalled a day during the installation. As he and Prescott were leaving, they saw a man standing, staring at a headstone in the cemetery. They both commented they hoped he hadn’t lost a child. Forty-five minutes later, after they returned, he was still standing there. “People are processing some pretty heavy stuff when they’re here,” Wertz said. “For someone like that man, a place like this is important. If people can come here and have something beautiful touch them in that moment, that’s a worthwhile contribution.

“I look at God as being the ultimate designer and creator. So, what I’m doing is just taking something He made and presenting it so people can see it. That’s important to me,” he continued. “Life is chaotic, hectic, stressful. There are losses, there’s grief, and there’s all kinds of negativity. When we can stop and see beauty, and truly relax, I think we ought to have a beautiful setting and focal point to do that.”

Queen of Angels Cemetery Phase 2 is open. For information, visit here. To watch footage of the igneous rocks, click here

By Glenda Meekins of the Florida Catholic staff, June 13, 2025

Marian statues convey love, mercy

WINTER PARK  |  Queen of Angels Cemetery is celebrating its fifth anniversary as the first diocesan cemetery in the Diocese of Orlando as Mary’s open arms continue to welcome the faithful.

In Phase II of the cemetery, four new Marian gardens are marked by beautiful bronze statues of the Blessed Mother: Our Lady of La Vang, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Blessed Virgin Mary Our Lady of Mercy, and Mary, Mother of Christ. The four statues were cast in Italy by Biondan, an international art firm.

David Branson, director of cemeteries for the diocese, said he selected the four Marian statues after first looking at apparitions of the Blessed Virgin outside of Europe. “To speak to the universality of Mary’s providence, passion, mercy and grace upon us is a universal and global experience and blessing,” he said. 

His obvious first choice was Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas, who relates to Spanish-speaking cultures, communities in North and Central America. The Knights of Colombus and many other societies have embraced her as their patroness.

Our Lady of Guadalupe first appeared to Juan Diego on Tepeyac Hill, Mexico in 1531, asking “Am I not here, I who am your Mother?”.

Speaking in his native language, she asked him to tell Bishop Juan de Zumárraga to build a church there so she could give her love, compassion, and protection to the people. She emphasized her role as a mother to all, offering solace, healing and guidance to those in need. 

Although it was winter, she had him pick roses and carry them in his tilma. Upon visiting the bishop, the roses spilled out revealing her image on the cloak. The bishop agreed. The statue depicts her standing over the moon, a sign of her dominion in heaven. 

Branson chose Our Lady of La Vang next, the Virgin that appeared to the Vietnamese hiding in the jungle in 1798 after emperor Cahn Thinh ordered all Catholic churches destroyed. Gathering each night to pray the rosary beneath a tree, Our Lady of La Vang appeared to the people who were sick and hungry and comforted them. She told them to boil the leaves of a fern growing there to heal them. She promised her help to all who came to pray there.

For Branson she represents “the expansion and growth of spreading the Gospel.” Father Chau Nguyen, pastor of St. Philip Phan Van Minh Parish in Orlando said the addition of the statue was wonderful news for the local Vietnamese community. “That people have a place to recognize and be laid to rest under the protection of Mary” is  a source of great comfort.

“It is natural for us to run to our mothers when we need protection and help,” Father Nguyen said. “When we put the cemetery under those titles of Mary, we know we can trust in the protection of a wonderful mother. We beseech her intercession at every moment of life.”

Branson said Mary, Mother of Christ was an obvious choice because of Mary’s participation in the salvation of mankind. “As a young mother figure with the infant Jesus in her arms, she speaks to the fabulous story of Mary’s role of being mom to our Savior,” he said.

Deacon Mark Fry is the family services counselor at the cemetery and frequently gives tours to interested families. 

“Christ is the word for Messiah, the Savior. When you say Mother of the Savior, that’s a pretty big deal,” he said. “He came to give us that eternal hope, where we will be for all of eternity.”  Paraphrasing Pope Francis from his homily Jan. 1, 2023, the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, Deacon Fry said, “God’s love for humanity is made concrete through Mary, as the Word became flesh in her. And Christ continues to have a heart of flesh that beats for each person because of Mary. Our Savior has this love for each one of us. He came into the world through Mary. I think that’s very powerful.”

Our Lady of Mercy rounds out the four statues. 

“Mary is a gateway of mercy for us to our Father. It’s in her mercy and petitions on our behalf that support us in front of God our Father and through the heart of our Lord, Jesus Christ,” Branson said. “Mercy is a representation of the depth to which Mary supports us, intercedes for us, continues to be with us as we go through our daily lives. It is her mercy, being an advocate for us, that helps us at the time of our judgement.”

Deacon Mark Fry said Our Lady of Mercy is in harmony with the name of the cemetery, Queen of Angels, depicted by the crown she wears. The tallest and heaviest of the four statues, he recalled someone on a recent tour saying, “Mercy is very heavy.” Pondering the statement, he agreed. “Mercy comes to us in the heaviest moment of our lives,” he said. “To Jesus, through Mary… Everything about Mary is meant to bring us even closer to Jesus, to God.”

Our Lady of Mercy, also known as Our Lady of Ransom, appeared to St. Peter Nolasco, his confessor St. Raymund of Penafort and King James I of Aragon and Catalonia in 1218. It was a time of persecution of Christians by the Moors who had invaded Spain. Our Lady of Mercy requested the foundation of a religious order dedicated to rescuing Christians held captive. The apparition led to the establishment of the Royal and Military Order of Our Lady of Mercy and Redemption of Captives, known as Mercedarians. Mary’s merciful hand assists those feeling helpless, offering solace and strength.

Reflecting on the four gardens, Father Miguel González, rector of St. James Cathedral in Orlando noted, “At Queen of Angels Cemetery, the presence of Our Blessed Mother brings consolation to those who grieve and mourn, finding comfort, finding hope, finding a mother that genuinely cares and embraces us in her maternal love as she leads us to her Son.”

Glenda Meekins of the Florida Catholic staff, June 5, 2025