By Zachary Keefer
Correspondent
MAYS LANDING – On July 8, 20 volunteers gathered in the parking lot of Saint Vincent de Paul Parish to help William Grayson achieve a lifelong goal – becoming an Eagle Scout. By midday, amidst the heat, they had finished building a prayer garden on the church grounds, and Grayson was one step closer to his goal.
The garden has two park benches, a small flower bed, a cross, gravel, pavers and two plaques. On July 30, in the company of family, friends and the parish community, Grayson finally got to see his work pay off as the garden was blessed and dedicated to Fathers Edward Heintzelman and Anthony Patrizio, whose names are inscribed on the plaques. Grayson credits both priests in having crucial roles in his spiritual development since moving to Mays Landing in 2011.
It was when Grayson began attending the parish’s religious education program that he met Father Heintzelman, who was then pastor. “He was always really supportive of the youth. He was definitely integral in my faith development,” says Grayson, adding that he and his family remain friends with the priest, who retired July 1.
He began getting to know Father Patrizio in the fourth grade, when Grayson became an altar server. Father Patrizio, who was parochial vicar, also helped Grayson through his first Sacrament of Reconciliation. The priests’ servant leadership to his faith inspired Grayson to dedicate the garden in their honor as a thank you.
Though Father Patrizio died in 2021, his memory lives on with Grayson. Throughout the prayer garden project, Grayson has been taking photos, many of which he sent Father Patrizio’s family in Italy.
Grayson, 17, is preparing to enter his senior year at Oakcrest High School this fall. He has been an active member of Troop 26, based in Galloway, for five years. In order to become an Eagle Scout, a Scout must meet a litany of merit badge requirements, hold several leadership positions and complete a service project for a communal or religious organization.
“When it came time to decide what my project was going to be about, I knew that I had to do something meaningful. I wanted to give back to the place that had been so influential in my development,” Grayson says.
Grayson initially aimed to raise $500 for the project, turning to his parish community for donations. “They absolutely blew it out of the water,” Grayson says, explaining that he received nearly $3,000.
Initially, Grayson had more conservative plans for the garden. But because of the generosity of his fellow parishioners, he was able to go above and beyond when it came time for the planning and execution of the project. He even has funding left over from the project, which will sit in a separate parish account for maintenance when Grayson attends Wagner College in Staten Island after high school.
“It’s something that I want to last for years,” Grayson says of the garden. “I only completed it three weeks ago, and [already] the parish has just loved it. I want to be able to continue to have it here for people, [and] need to take as best care of it as I can.”
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