Big party set at Michener Museum for Community Labyrinth’s birthday

At first, it can be easy to overlook – the reddish brown gravel laid out in an unfamiliar pattern, bordered by gray stone blocks. But, on second glance, it’s clear the design is far from random, in fact it’s quite beautiful.
The Community Labyrinth at The Michener Art Museum radiates across a small plot of land in Doylestown’s cultural district, at the intersection of Ashland and Pine streets, offering a “walking meditation” for anyone to consider.
It’s been a decade since Jo Ann Maroney, who lives directly across the street, made it her mission to create the labyrinth to honor her daughter, Mary Ann.
“This is the result of my daughter,” said Maroney, spreading her arms toward the shaded labyrinth. Mary Ann was murdered in New York City in 1995. She was 24 years old.
One day in her grief, Maroney went to Our Lady of Czestochowa Shrine to pray and ask God for a sign that her daughter was at peace. As she left the church, she looked down and saw “a huge four-leaf clover and I absolutely knew it was the sign I was looking for.”
From that moment on, Maroney explains, she saw four-leaf clovers in many places, including on a yoga retreat at the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. “That’s when I knew it meant we should build a labyrinth,” she said, although she didn’t yet know it would be in an empty lot across the street, owned by the Michener Art Museum.

But, once the museum gave its permission, Maroney, a longtime Doylestown Realtor, formed a talented committee that included a landscape architect, a master gardener, a nursery owner, an attorney and labyrinth designer and neighbor, Connie Fentyl. “She laid it all out,” said Maroney, who is quick to point out what a collaborative effort it was to create the seven-tier labyrinth.
“It couldn’t have happened without all the volunteers and amazing neighbors.” And, Maroney noted, the beautiful tile work of artist and operator of The TileWorks of Bucks County, Katia McGuirk.
Ten years later, the lovely labyrinth has become a valued part of the community.
“It’s so gratifying to see people enjoying it, finding peace, kids finding joy,” said Maroney. You’ll see the space decorated at Christmas and pink pumpkins set around it to mark “Pine to Pink,” a fundraiser for breast cancer research. Others who have lost loved ones have planted trees and shrubs at the labyrinth.
Walking along the contemplative path, “replicates your journey in life,” said Maroney, whose son was married there. “Eventually you get to the center and hopefully have figured it out; it clears your head.”
The birthday festivities are Saturday, from 10 a.m. to noon. There will be music, activities for children, including a magician and the “Bubble Witch,” and much more. The public is encouraged to attend the free event.

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