WAYNESVILLE — Kevin Wenzel, a Boy Scout and high school junior in Waynesville, is leading his Eagle Scout project to build a Marian grotto at his parish, St. John the Evangelist Church. The grotto will be dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes in thanksgiving for prayers answered.
On Feb. 11, the feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes, St. John the Evangelist Parish made an offer to purchase a lot adjacent to the church. The .42-acre site will serve as a much-needed recreation field for the parish’s youth and families, according to Father Richard Sutter, parochial administrator. Plans are to eventually build a gymnasium on the site as well.
“This recreation space will be the first in our Smoky Mountain Vicariate and it will open the door to a greater outreach in youth ministry both within our parish and throughout Haywood County,” Father Sutter said.
The parish is convinced that the new youth and family recreational field became available due to the intercessory prayers of Our Lady of Lourdes on her feast day. With this in mind, they wish to honor her as an expression of gratitude and devotion, Father Sutter noted.
And thanks to a generous benefactor, the grotto will soon contain a new four-foot Carrara marble statue of Our Lady of Lourdes that was hand carved in Italy.
The grotto is located near the entrance to the new recreation field and it will have the following inscriptions: “I am the Immaculate Conception,” Our Lady of Lourdes’ words to St. Bernadette of Soubirous; and “Do whatever He tells you,” the Blessed Virgin Mary’s final words in Scripture, in John 2:5.
Father Sutter said he is grateful to Kevin, his parents Dr. Chris and Georgiana Wenzel, the teens who are helping him with the Eagle Scout project, and everyone at the parish who has been involved in this effort.
— Catholic News Herald
Pictured: Boy Scout Kevin Wenzel is pictured recently at the construction site of his Eagle Scout project, a Marian grotto that will feature a statue of Our Lady of Lourdes. (Photos provided by St. John the Evangelist Church)
Youth events, programs being offered in Waynesville
St. John the Evangelist Parish has recently launched several programs for local youths and their families:
Family and Youth Ministry Wednesday Night Encounters with Christ: On Wednesday nights, the parish offers Mass at 5:30 p.m. followed by Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament until 8 p.m. While adults gather for prayer and Adoration, the youth group – called L.I.T., for “Life Involves Teens; Love Involves Transformation” – meets for prayer, fellowship, games and food. At 8 p.m., families all meet back inside the church to conclude the evening with Benediction.
Leadership Day Camps: Middle school youth will have an opportunity to attend a summer Leadership Day Camp this June. Father Richard Sutter (Ironman triathlete, former Atlanta Braves chaplain, former U.S. Army Airborne Ranger Infantry Officer, and member of the Belmont Abbey College Sport Virtue Initiative) will serve as day camp director for the inaugural Middle School Youth Summer Leadership Training Program. The five-day camps will be held June 10-14 for boys and June 17-21 for girls. The camps will run from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day and will focus on the four cardinal virtues: prudence, temperance, fortitude and justice. Interested? Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Registration details are online at www.stjohnrcc.org.
Catholic Heritage Pilgrimage: St. John the Evangelist’s L.I.T. Youth Group is preparing for a Catholic Heritage Pilgrimage to New Orleans and the Atlanta Steubenville Conference July 7-14.
Haywood County high school teens interested in attending the pilgrimage should go online to www.stjohnrcc.com for details.