Healing from Homelessness: Cranaleith Spiritual Center Immerses Saint John’s Hospice Residents in Nature
In Gaelic, Cranaleith means “a sanctuary of trees.”
Nestled in Northeast Philadelphia, tucked away in a quiet neighborhood, is Cranaleith Spiritual Center. It spans 10 acres with a quarter-acre pond, a bioswale, an apiary for beekeeping, and a vegetable garden, along with other sustainable spaces.
And every Thursday for 13 years, residents of Saint John’s Hospice have been traveling to Cranaleith to retreat from their daily challenges and enjoy healing that only nature can offer.
During their visits, they help maintain Cranaleith’s spaces by creating pathways, clearing brush, building bridges, and maintaining the bioswale, which filters rainwater so it can enter the water system in a healthier way.
This is just one of many ways that SJH, an agency of Catholic Charities of Philadelphia, enriches the lives of its residents who are experiencing homelessness. This partnership started from a connection with archdiocesan priests who worked at SJH and Sister Mary Trainer and Sister Maria DiBello, the two Religious Sisters of Mercy, founders of Cranaleith.
Bernadette Rudolph, Director of Facilitation and Strategic Partnerships and a presenter at Cranaleith, leads these visits. She says the partnership sparks intentional conversations where both parties learn to appreciate their unique gifts.
“All of a sudden, we come up with ideas that are beautiful, and things we never could have thought of if we hadn’t sat down to talk,” Rudolph said. “Every time I spend time with the people, the residents and the staff, and I am just blessed by the things we imagine together.”
The role nature plays in healing is specific and personal to each individual. William Monahan, a Saint John’s Hospice resident, has been coming to Cranaleith for two years.
“As soon as you’re here, it’s a whole different world,” he said.
Prior to coming to SJH, Monahan struggled to find a place that would take him in long-term. He arrived at SJH, began to work with a case manager, and is now seeking permanent housing after getting back on his feet with the help of SJH’s services.
“I was stuck, I was homeless, I didn’t have my Social Security or anything, and Saint John’s helped me obtain all that,” Monahan said.
Every week, Monahan helps plant trees and work around the Cranaleith property. He recently planted a tree in the parking lot that stands tall and healthy, defying the Philadelphia heat.
Jacquan Gary, a Germantown native and SJH resident, has been coming to Cranaleith every Thursday this year. Working with a leaf blower, he stopped to note how being at the center has impacted his spirituality.
“I feel like everywhere is spiritual, but when I come here, I feel more connected to the Earth. It’s just different from being in the city,” Gary said.
Cranaleith not only impacts the residents of Saint John’s Hospice, but also its staff. David White, a case manager, has been driving the residents to Cranaleith for two years and working alongside them in the vegetable garden and around the property.
“It’s an amazing opportunity for the residents to get outside of the city, put their feet in some grass, get connected with nature, and get some spirituality and self-reflection going,” he said. “It’s a fantastic opportunity for the guys to get some space from how congested Saint John’s and Philadelphia can be. We are so grateful for Cranaleith sharing its space with us.”
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Saint John’s Hospice, a program of Catholic Charities of Philadelphia, is a nationally recognized leader in providing essential residential and day services, acting as a beacon of hope for those experiencing homelessness. For more information about volunteering or to make a donation, visit www.saintjohnshospice.org.