Being a former Catholic who studied to be a monk, Gardenia Eden found the welcoming and acceptance for all persons that was lacking in the Catholic Church. Gardenia aspires to spread joy, love, and understanding in her ministry with the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence here in the Emerald City.
How did you come up with the name Gardenia Eden?
A: I wanted a name that gave off elegance, something that would strike confidence when I heard it. I first started looking at different gems and then flowers for something that caught my attention. Once I found Gardenia I started thinking about ways I could get creative with it and got to Eden Gardenia, but it didn’t quite roll off the tongue, but flipping the two words gave a smoother yet sophisticated sounding name, as well as a slight pun on “Garden of Eden”.
What is your favorite part of being a sister?
A: The creative freedom, I get to put on makeup and not feel isolated for doing so as well as learning more about makeup application and styles.
What are your future goals?
A: Someday I want to open a cafe that caters to the LGBTQ+ community so there are other places for people to meet up besides bars and nightclubs, and it would be a place for persons to meet up during the day as well as at night.