Planting Hope, Cultivating Healing
By Fr. Gregory M. Satorie-Robinson, Chair, Roberta’s House Garden Club
At Roberta’s House, healing takes many forms. For some, it is found in the embrace of community; for others, in the quiet reflection of remembrance. For me, it has always been rooted in the soil.
I grew up on a farm in Nebraska, where I learned at an early age the restorative power of tending the earth. My paternal grandmother, Josephine Rose Satorie, a devoted farm wife, loved to grow all kinds of flowers and plants, and food to nourish her family. I can still picture her in the kitchen making pickles and sauerkraut, showing me how the harvest could be preserved and shared. From her, I discovered that working the land not only feeds the body but also grounds the spirit, offering strength when life feels overwhelming.
Later, during the height of the AIDS pandemic, when I witnessed far too many deaths, gardening once again became a lifeline. When words failed, planting and tending the earth gave me release and renewal. Some find that release in lifting weights, punching a bag, or running for miles. For me, it comes through digging into the soil. Over the years, I have planted hundreds of trees with my own hands—each one a living testament to resilience, a way to transform grief and frustration into growth and hope.
Today, grief has come to me in a new and painful way with the loss of my mother, Mary Lou Satorie. My mom lived her faith every day. She was a woman of deep kindness and quiet strength, whose love and care for family and community continue to guide me. Her memory inspires me daily to turn grief into purpose and to create spaces of healing for others.
That is why the Roberta’s House Garden Club exists. Our mission is to cultivate healing spaces where families can connect with nature, honor their loved ones, and find renewal. From the rooftop garden at our Baltimore center to the green spaces we are building across the community, our goal is simple yet profound: to care for the earth as it cares for us. As Scripture reminds us, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it” (Psalm 24:1). We are called to be faithful stewards of creation, and it is through this stewardship that we nurture both the planet and the human spirit.
As we move into this new season, I find myself eagerly awaiting the fall asters and goldenrod that are just about to bloom on the rooftop. Soon, it will be time to tuck bulbs into the soil, trusting in the promise of spring yet to come. Each planting is an act of hope, a reminder that even in seasons of loss, renewal is possible.
“Each planting is an act of hope, a reminder that even in seasons of loss, renewal is possible.”
I invite you to join us—whether by volunteering in the rooftop garden, supporting our Garden Club initiatives, or simply pausing to witness the beauty that grows here. No experience necessary: you don’t need to be an experienced gardener to connect with others who seek to be grounded in the earth, find satisfaction in making the world just a little bit better, or feel nurtured by beauty. Together, we can spread healing not only for our communities, but also for our planet.
—Fr. Gregory Satorie-Robinson
Chair, Roberta’s House Garden Club
About Gregory Satorie-Robinson
Father Gregory Satorie-Robinson is a musician and Minister of Music. He is the co-founder of Positive Voices, a vocal trio that brought HIV/AIDS education and healing through song.
