Special to The Message
Kyle Woehler, a third-year high school student and Boy Scout at St. Joseph Parish in Jasper, was working toward earning his Eagle Scout rank. Initially, Kyle had two potential ideas for his project: a fountain with a garden around it or the idea of erecting a statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe. After careful consideration and discussions with the parish council, it was decided that the statue of Our Lady would be the more fitting choice. There were no exterior Marian statues on St. Joseph’s campus, and the hope was that it would help further integrate communities together.
The decision was made, and Kyle began working on the project in September 2023. The first step was to find a statue, which was made easy with the help of Father John Brosmer and Father Homero Rodriguez. They quickly identified the statue they wanted, and with the assistance of Father Homero’s connections, they secured a statue from a trusted supplier in Jalisco, Mexico. The statue, crafted from Cantera stone, was perfect for the parish.
However, there were a few hiccups along the way. The transportation of the statue was delayed due to hurricanes in the area, but Father Homero went above and beyond, finding a replacement driver to ensure the statue’s safe arrival. Before the statue made it to St. Joseph, Kyle and the team had to decide on the perfect location for it. After considering several factors, they chose an area close to both the church and the sidewalk. Moreover, the chosen spot placed the statue back-to-back with the Deliverance Cross, symbolizing the powerful connection between Mary and Jesus.
Once the location was set, they prepared a concrete foundation for the statue and added a sidewalk to view the statue. The next step was to create the garden around the statue. The layout of the garden was finalized by Pat Gehlhausen, the maintenance supervisor. The group decided to plant roses around the statue, as roses are a powerful symbol of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Brad Popp was enlisted to install the statue, and landscaping was completed in two separate work sessions with the help of many volunteers from the parish.
Woehler expressed his gratitude to everyone who helped bring the project to fruition.
“I would like to thank the parishioners, donors, volunteers, and the Buildings and Grounds Committee who made the completion of this project possible,” Kyle said. “I also want to thank Father Homero, who facilitated the acquisition and delivery of the statue, and Father John, who helped organize fundraising and spreading the word about the project throughout the parish. Yessenia Olvera helped me recruit volunteers, and Fred Felter, my scoutmaster, has been a huge support on my journey to become an Eagle Scout.”
With the garden complete and the statue installed, the community eagerly awaited the blessing ceremony, which was scheduled after the bilingual Mass on Dec. 9, 2024. The gathering was filled with joy and reverence as the statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe was blessed, becoming a new focal point of faith for the parish. The parishioners, surrounded by roses, now had a lasting symbol of devotion and unity — a project that started as a simple Eagle Scout endeavor had blossomed into something much more profound.