“I plead with you, never, ever give up on hope, never doubt, never tire, and never become discouraged. Be not afraid.”
That comforting message from Pope Saint John Paul II now adorns a plaque in a recently completed prayer garden bearing his name at Holy Family Parish, Sewell. The garden project was spearheaded and constructed by 17-year-old Gavin Kushner as part of his Eagle Scout project, and was officially unveiled on Divine Mercy Sunday.
“The church was about to start fundraising [for the project], and I stepped in and said I would do it for them,” said Kushner, who is a member of Our Lady of Peace Parish, Williamstown. The prayer garden is in an often-shaded location on the parish grounds, and includes a walkway in the shape of a cross, a pedestal holding a statue of the namesake and two benches.
As a member of Boy Scout Troop 57, which is based at the Sewell parish, Kushner wanted to find a way to show his gratitude for the parish’s support over the years.
“They helped us out in the past, and I thought this was a way to give back to them,” he said.
Both Gavin and his twin brother, Nicholas, officially earned the rank of Eagle Scout on March 26 after both completed their projects. The pair also recently completed preparations for the Sacrament of Confirmation, and were confirmed by Bishop Dennis Sullivan.
For his Eagle Scout project, Nicholas constructed a gaga ball pit at Oak Knoll Elementary School, Williamstown, where he previously went to school. A sport popular with scouting troops, gaga ball is a fast-paced game played in an octagonal pit that is often seen as a less physical version of dodgeball.
“I have seen it start to become popular in schools across the nation, so I thought it would be a good idea to offer the idea to build one at this school,” he said. “It was a lot of planning and hard work, and it did feel good in the end to complete it. It felt good to give back to the school.”
Nicholas also reflected on how scouting values reinforce the values of his faith. “Scouting has definitely taught me to do the right thing, and taught me to help other people,” he said.
Gavin shared a similar sentiment, and said that his time in scouting has underscored the importance of doing the right thing.
In a recent interview, Gavin spoke about the extensive planning process for his Eagle Scout project. After hearing of the parish’s plans to construct a prayer garden, he met with the pastor, Father James Bartoloma, to receive permission to work on the project. After preparing his Eagle Scout proposal and getting approval from his scouting council, he turned his efforts toward fundraising. Gavin spoke after Masses and received support from parishioners as well as local businesses – including a landscaping company that helped with the project.
“It just feels amazing, after all the years of hard work and planning,” he said, “to be able to take a step back and take it all in.”
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