Jacob Mathys gives back to his home parish through his Eagle Scout project
By Jeff Kurowski | On Mission
GREEN BAY (BELLEVUE) — Parishioners got their first look at a new outdoor space at Prince of Peace Church while attending weekend Masses June 1-2. The feedback for the new reflection area, featuring a statue of Jesus holding children, was “one positive comment after another,” said Deacon Jeff Prickette, pastoral leader at the parish.
“People couldn’t share enough how wonderful it looked,” he said. “I was walking by there (recently) and a parishioner was sitting on one of the benches, enjoying it out there.”
The reflection area — which features a red granite path leading to the statue — is the work of Jacob Mathys, who created the space for his Eagle Scout project.
“I wanted to do something for the church and this is what popped up,” said Mathys, the eldest of four children of Ryan and Kari Mathys. “I came up with the plan and presented it to the buildings and grounds committee.”
The reflection area, surrounded by existing sidewalk, is located outside the new addition at Prince of Peace.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on May 22 for the new 12,000-square-foot addition, which includes meeting rooms, offices, community rooms and bathrooms. Renovations and upgrades were also made to 1,700 square feet of the existing church as part of the project.
Mathys, 15, a member of Scout Troop 1173, led a group made up of mostly troop members and family to complete the project on the morning of June 1. The workers landscaped the area with crushed red granite for the path, mulch and specifically placed plants. Benches were placed on both sides of the ”Children Come to Me” themed statue.
One of the challenges of the project for Mathys, who will be a sophomore in the fall at Preble High School in Green Bay, was gauging the space during planning, he said.
“I committed to the project when construction (of the addition) was still happening,” he said. “They had (the area) closed off for construction, so I couldn’t see how big it was.”
Mathys said he is grateful for the support from his family. His grandfather, Larry Van Rite of Van Rite Trucking and Excavating, and his uncle, Lee Van Rite of Van Rite Plumbing, hauled mulch and other materials in trucks from their respective businesses.
“His dad (Ryan) worked as a landscaper for several years, so together, with (Ryan’s) expertise and Jacob’s coordination of this project, it all happened in one day. They beat the rain,” said Deacon Prickette.
Mathys said he plans to finish his paperwork for Eagle Scout by the end of the summer in order to, hopefully, receive the honor by the end of the calendar year.
He started Scouting in the fourth grade, he said.
“You learn a lot from completing the different merit badges,” he said. “(For example) I would have never known that nuclear science was so interesting if not for the merit badge. You also learn leadership skills, which you can take with you.”
“(Jacob) is a really great young man. He’s got a really good heart and is from a great family,” said Deacon Prickette. “Most high schoolers are at the point where they don’t want to (be an altar server) anymore. He does. He serves with his brother (Ben, 13).
“The whole family gives unselfishly of their time and talents for so many things here at the parish,” he added. “Jacob is part of that family tree that keeps giving.”
“I’m pretty happy with this,” said Mathys about the new outdoor space.
“I think it’s going to become known as the ‘Children’s Garden,’ earning that name because of the statue,” said Deacon Prickette. “It’s going to be a great spot to walk by and spend time there.”