Eagle Scout project results in Rosary Garden at Elyria Catholic

After a year of planning and work, Elyria Catholic High School’s new Rosary Garden was unveiled and blessed during a ceremony on Oct. 9 at the school.

Senior Quinn Rohwer conceived, planned and implemented the garden as his Eagle Scout project.

Annie Heidersbach, EC president, said before Quinn got to work, the area included some grass, a few plants and a small grotto with a statue of the Blessed Virgin that was placed there by the EC class of 2008. The new garden sits off the breezeway between the theology classrooms and the former convent, which was converted to offices, including one for Heidersbach.

“I can look outside and admire this beautiful Rosary Garden,” she said.

Quinn proposed the idea during his sophomore year while deciding what he’d do for his Eagle Scout project for Scouting America. He spent the past year planning, trouble-shooting, fundraising and creating the new garden with help from family and friends. His brother, Jeromy, an EC junior and fellow Eagle Scout, helped with the garden. He also completed a companion project – renovating the grotto and adding a small, heart-shaped garden nearby.

In addition to a large, walkable rosary with stone disks marking the various prayers, the garden has a new sidewalk and two raised, landscaped flower beds, as well as a circular stone flower bed in the middle. Quinn had to use some ingenuity, problem-solving skills and networking to complete the project.

He recalled trying to figure out the best way to install the actual rosary, which sits on a bed of crushed stone. Circular disks were cut from sandstone – 8 inches in diameter for the Hail Mary disks and 10 inches for the Our Father. The result is a walkable rosary. There also are two benches in the garden so people can sit, pray and reflect. On the other side, near the grotto, there are a few picnic tables in EC green so students or others can study, read or simply enjoy the area.

“God helped line it all up,” Quinn said. He also credited his parents, Marianne and Tim, for their help. “My dad had some health challenges during the project,” he recalled. “He’s OK now, but we’d appreciate continued prayers … I am grateful to all who helped,” Quinn said, noting about 15-20 people turned out to help dig out and lay the gravel base for the rosary. “God helped me get this all lined up,” he added.

Heidersbach said Quinn and his core group, including his family, spent six to eight hours a day working on the project – despite the cold, heat and rainy weather. It was finished in early September. Deacon Bill Elwer of nearby St. Jude Parish in Elyria blessed the garden during the ceremony that was attended by members of the EC senior class and Quinn’s family.

“I was impressed watching this project come together,” Heidersbach said. “Quinn invested an incredible amount of time, talent and treasure into creating a permanent place for prayer on our campus … This reflects what we hope to see in our students: faith put into action, leadership, perseverance and service to others.”

The Rohwers are members of Holy Trinity Parish in Avon (part of the Avon Catholic Community). Quinn and Jeromy have been involved in scouting since they were Cub Scouts. They belong to Troop 462 at Holy Trinity.