St. Leo parishioners volunteer at the Doran Arboretum in Murray on May 23, 2026, helping clean and replant a garden bed, during a beautiful day of service, stewardship and community. COURTESY OF DAVA HAYDEN
Murray parishioners live out ‘Laudato Si’ with service day
BY DEANNA SWAGGART, SPECIAL TO THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC
On Saturday, May 23, 2026, families at St. Leo Parish in Murray spent time volunteering at the Doran Arboretum at Murray State University planting and serving together caring for God’s creation.
We planted flowers and cleaned garden beds and learned so much from Dava Hayden, the Horticulture Instructor and Arboretum Manager.
As Pope Francis reminds us in Laudato Si: “All of us can cooperate as instruments of God for the care of creation.”
Caring for creation, one weed at a time. St. Leo parishioners in Murray live out the call of Laudato Si at the Doran Arboretum during a parish service day on May 23, 2026. COURTESY OF DAVA HAYDEN
Originally printed in the Diocese of Owensboro’s 2025-2026 impact report in June 2026.
