Rosary is inspiration for Eagle Scout project at St. Michael School

Chris Sosnowski, standing in the back row at the left with a hat and hood on his head, said the rosary walk that he and others completed outside St. Michael School in Greenfield was a community effort. “I’m really appreciative of all the work these guys put in,” he said. (Submitted photo)

By Mike Krokos

GREENFIELD—Chris Sosnowski remembers learning to pray the rosary in fifth grade at St. Michael School in Greenfield, and the simple yet powerful prayer left a lasting impression on him.

Four years later, Chris, his parents and his siblings try to pray the rosary as a family on a regular basis.

A freshman at Greenfield Central High School, Chris, 15, decided the rosary would play a key part in his Eagle Scout project for St. Michael’s Troop #770 in Greenfield.

The result is a rosary walk that was recently completed on the grounds of St. Michael School.

“I wanted to do something that helps the community in some way,” said Chris, who with his family has been a member of St. Michael Parish in Greenfield since 1995.

“I wanted to create a quiet place for people to come and pray,” he continued. “Also, it can be a place where kids can come back here and read.”

Chris and his father, John, along with help from fellow Scouts, friends and members of the St. Michael Parish community, spent more than two months working on the rosary project this fall.

Most of the material for the effort was donated by individuals or local merchants, Chris noted, and people who helped with the project used their own tools.

Not surprisingly, Chris says the rosary walk was a team effort.

“I’m really appreciative of all the work these guys put in,” he said.

The rosary walk has four paths—one each for the Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious and Luminous Mysteries—and there will be placards posted along the paths with a summary of what each mystery represents.

Benches will be placed for people to sit in the garden-like area as they reflect about the mysteries of the rosary, Chris said. In the spring, flowers will be planted.

Theresa Slipher, principal of St. Michael School, said she is “thrilled” to have the rosary garden and added that it will fit in well with the school’s curriculum.

“We have a time [each year] before Lent where [a group known as] the rosary ladies come in and help us [our students] make rosaries,” said Slipher, who gave permission for the project along with the parish council and Benedictine Father Severin Messick, pastor of St. Michael Parish. “We can actually use the new area outside [for this].”

Slipher added that she was not surprised that Chris chose the rosary walk as his Eagle Scout project because “you wouldn’t find anyone who lives his Catholic identity as well” as Chris does.

The rosary walk, which will be dedicated after the school’s 8 a.m. Mass on Dec. 19, “adds another element to our Catholic identity,” Slipher added. “It’s a prayerful place to go.”

Father Severin agreed.

“I think what it does, … it gives us another place on the church property to encourage devotion to Mary,” Father Severin said, “and to take time for God in prayer.”

John Sosnowski said he is proud of his son and added that his Eagle Scout project is a great faith formation tool.

“It gives us a better way to evangelization,” he said. “Hopefully, maybe this will inspire some other people.” †