Marianist Retreat and Conference Center Benefits from Eagle Scout

Statutes depicting Jesus at the in was chosen as the site of an Eagle Scout project by Life Scout Danny Rice of Scout Troop 597.

Last month, 12 Scouts and four adult leaders spent a full day and a half refurbishing the Center’s Stations of the Cross, and sprucing up the surrounding area. The Stations—consisting of 14 masonry statues depicting Jesus’ journey to Calvary—had become stained with mildew and overgrown with weeds. The boys, under Rice’s leadership, power-washed the statutes, applied a special glistening white paint, and constructed seven permanent benches on the site.

Sponsored by the Society of Mary, the Marianist Retreat Center has been serving the spiritual and educational needs of youth and adults since its founding in 1966. The Center is known for its hospitality and quality of service. A wide range of retreat and educational experiences are offered on a year-round basis.

Troop 567 is chartered to Ascension Catholic Church in Chesterfield. It consists of boys between the ages of 11 and 17. The Scoutmaster, Thomas Owen, and several parents and adult leaders participated in Rice’s Eagle project, including his parents, Rick and Nanette Rice. The following Scouts helped with the project: Corey O’Conner, his dad Craig O’Conner, Patrick Siegmund, Chris Nowak, Sam Thompson, Daniel Thompson, John Clark, Joey Suntrup, Matt Prather, Ryan Zink, Trey Erbs, Adam Otto, Alec Catcheris and Michael Copenhaver.

Editor's Note: Thanks to Curtis Ballenger, development director at the Marianist Retreat and Conference Center for details of this article.