Scout's effort enhances parish

Even the best-laid plans, Matthew Olivo learned, don't quite turn out the way he originally envisioned them. Sometimes, they turn out better.

He was referring to his recent achievement: a 100x50-foot meditation garden and Stations of the Cross path at St. Clement's Church in Saratoga Springs, where he is an altar server. He completed the project in fulfillment of the Eagle rank in Boy Scouting.

Matthew is a sophomore at Saratoga Central Catholic High School and a member of Boy Scout Troop 26, which is based at the parish.

Ideas

The idea for the meditation garden came from parishioners, Matthew said, but it was the sacristan, Marilyn Helenek, who "really got me started."

Conversations with his father and a former teacher of his at St. Clement's, where he attended elementary school, gave him the idea to include Stations of the Cross.

Boy Scout trips to the Shrine of the North American Martyrs in Auriesville gave him a framework for how the garden was to look: "a place away from civilization -- away from all the hustle and bustle of the world where you can just go back there to reflect and pray," he said.

Expansion

Originally, the project was designed for a 50x25 space, and Matthew imagined it as a flower garden, integrated with the surrounding forest, that would feature a seating area and a small rubble pathway leading from the back of the church.

"We had to change everything about how we were to go about the project," he said, after meetings with the parish council brought up concerns he hadn't originally thought of, including the issue of handicap accessibility,

He expanded the project, installing cedar-wood Stations imported from Spain, white benches for seating, a gravel path large enough for prayer groups and school classes, a median decorated with trimmed shrubs, and a statue of Mary. Since the site is meant to be secluded, the statue is the only element of the garden visible from the church.

Time element

For Matthew, it was a long haul from plans on paper to concrete and cedar. For more than a year, he held meetings with the parish council, the city of Saratoga Springs and local contractors.

He also needed to coordinate volunteers, arrange deliveries, manage schedules and pitch in with building the site.

He spoke at local charities, including the Knights of Columbus, in support of his project, and presented it during Mass to St. Clement's parishioners. As a result, he raised more than $3,500 to support the project. He estimates that he spent 250-plus hours completing the project.

Nitty-gritty

"Some projects, you can finish in a few months, maybe half a year," Matthew said. This one "got to the point where it seemed it would never end."

One of the his biggest stumbling blocks -- literally and figuratively -- was figuring out what to use for the pathway. Because of the accessibility concerns, the original plans for a small rubble pathway were scrapped. Other options, such as asphalt, were prohibitively expensive and ruined the more "natural" look that inspired him.

Speaking with a local contractor brought him to the decision to use a "crusher-run" pathway, or an aggregate of gravel and cement that hardens upon contact with water or rain.

Finale

On Oct. 31, parishioners gathered at the site for a dedication ceremony led by Rev. Joseph Tizio, CSSR, pastor.

At the event, another of his former teachers informed him she was going to incorporate the site into her religion curriculum for next year, taking her children to learn about the Stations of the Cross while surrounded by the oaks and maples.

"I was really happy about that," the Scout admitted. "St. Clement's is where I started. I go to church there, I went to school there, and I want to give back something for what they've given me. Being able to give back to the community where I grew up is probably the biggest thing that I'm proud of."

Scouting

Matthew has been a Boy Scout for much of his life. He joined the St. Clement's Cub Scout pack when his family moved from New Jersey to Saratoga Springs. After the Cub Scouts, he and a few friends spearheaded the formation of a full-fledged Boy Scout troop.

Since then, other Scout activities have been added, including an Adventure Crew group, a co-ed high-adventure organization for both girls and boys ages 14-21.

In Troop 26, Matthew has been a senior patrol leader. He enjoys hiking in the Adirondack high peaks, rock-climbing, snowboarding and other pursuits. He is a first-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and plays electric guitar with the high school jazz band.

Lasting gift

Eagle Scout projects must provide some kind of positive service and assistance to a religious institution, school or community organization, and there's plenty of evidence that Matthew has met that guideline.

He is proud of his achievement and hopes that St. Clement's parishioners find the space a good place to retreat in order to sit, pray and talk with God.

"It's not something that is going to deteriorate. I know it's going to be there for generations," he said. "I'm proud of myself for finishing the project. The fact that parishioners at St. Clement's were really happy with it was enough to keep me going."

(Matthew has earned a number of Catholic honors for his involvement in Scouting, including the Ad Altare Dei Star Award and the Pope Pius XII Award. Recently, the Albany Diocese recognized him as the Catholic Scout of the Year. He said that his faith "has changed my character and made me who I am today.")

(11/11/04)