Immaculate Conception gets prayer garden courtesy of Scout

Andrew Bertrand earned Scouting's highest rank, Eagle Scout, at a court of honor held at the American Legion Hall recently. A Troop 311 Boy Scout, Bertrand's Scouting career has been influenced by many people, including his parents, Harry and Cherri Bertrand; adult leaders, especially Joe Garvey and Stan Latimer; and his fellow Scouts.

His Eagle Scout project, on the grounds of Immaculate Conception Church, is a prayer garden offering solitude for people to sit, pray and relax.

Bertrand met with Monsignor Edward Eftink of Immaculate Conception Church to make plans for a garden that would best fit the needs of a church that was recently in the path of a tornado.

"As a pastor I'm glad to see people take care of the outside," Eftink said. He said if someone else doesn't do it, he must. "I'm pleased to see the garden in use by students. It's a place for reflection."

A winding path, adorned with carefully placed plants, leads to a statue of St. Francis of Assisi. Bertrand chose the saint for his association with nature. The path broadens to a bordered area landscaped with mulch, flowers and benches.

Helping Bertrand on the project were Matt Hoffman, Cory Seabaugh, Derek Pugh, Harry Bertrand Jr., Don Pugh, Alex Koenig, Josh Sellers, Cherri Bertrand and Jordan Renaud.

Bertrand, a student at Notre Dame Regional High School, is now looking forward to graduating and moving on to college.