Tom Carroll undertakes spiritual Eagle project

This story has been corrected.
By Ginny Privitar

HEWITT — Boy Scout Tom Carroll lives in West Milford and attends Our Lady Queen of Peace Church where he is a student team leader for their Confirmation preparation program. “I’ve been a part of the church my entire life,” said Tom.

When he was casting about for a worthy Eagle Scout project, he thought of his church. Tom talked with his pastor, Father Michael Rodak, and asked him if there were any projects that needed work there. Father Rodak mentioned some ideas that, according to Tom, didn’t really fit his vision.

“Then he showed me the stations (of the cross) and immediately I knew this would be a great project for me.”

As they walked among the outdoor stations, Tom saw the disrepair they were in; many were damaged and had pieces missing.

“There’s a little plaque under each from the family that donated them,” said Tom. "When I got to the first station I saw that it was donated by the Carroll family. I asked and nobody in my family remembers doing anything like that.”

At any rate, once he saw the name, Tom says, “I thought it was a sign from God that this should be my project.”

Getting going
Tom, along with his dad, Ken, other Scout leaders, and members of his Troop 146 of Upper Greenwood Lake, plan to completely replace and improve the outdoor stations of the cross with new ones; only the posts will be reused. They are asking for the public’s help in raising $2,000 to completely fund the cost of the project.

Tom is off to a good start. He’s already received the actual images for the station plaques from Italy; they were paid for by a donation. According to Tom, they are even more beautiful than the originals and are made for outdoor installation, so they should last many years.

Right now the support posts are 4x4s with peeling red paint, but otherwise in good shape. The wood carvings of the stations themselves are falling apart, with pieces missing. One entire station is not there because it was felled by Hurricane Sandy.

New improvements will include a stone base and a new roof over each station. A new design for the top of the stations was conceived by Tom. An original sketch for the total design was done by Kim Ponce, an employee at his father Ken’s photo business, Lightroom Studios in West Milford.

Working this weekend
This Saturday, Oct. 5, Tom and his volunteers hope to strip all the posts and sand them and build a square wooden mold to pour the concrete in for the base. The following week they’ll be joined by mason John Martini of Martini Masonry in Ringwood and construct the stone and concrete base which will be about two feet high. Steve Brooks of Pompton Millworks in Wanaque is the carpenter who is helping make this a reality.

On the third weekend, some of the Scout leaders will meet with Brooks and help cut and assemble the top portions, the roof and supports.

After the top portions are done, volunteers will finish assembling the stations and the roofs.

A meaningful project
This prospective Eagle Scout is happy to do the project. “It’s something that really spoke to me,” he said. The new stations will provide a fitting place of peace and spiritual retreat for the congregation, or any members of the community.

Tom is 17 years old and attends Pope John High School in Sparta. Besides helping his church and his community, he plays volleyball and enjoys snowboarding. Future plans include applying for an early decision to Fordham University to study economics.

“Tom has always expressed a desire to do good,” said Rodak. “I think Tom is very affable, good, generous and warm-hearted and willing to share that with others. We have to be mindful of all the Scouts who do so much in the town. We are very fortunate to have this project undertaken; it will accomplish three things. It will beautify the area. It will give credence for greater spiritual reflection when (parishioners) make the stations of the cross, and it will be something sustainable for a long period of time.”

How you can help
Members of Troop 159 of Our Lady Queen of Peace will be asked to help with the project. They, along with Tom’s troop 146 and volunteers, will provide the manpower for the physical installation. Members of the community, the Knights of Columbus and several local businesses are helping in the fundraising effort, but more help is needed. Anyone who would like to donate to this project should make checks payable to Thomas Carroll and mail it to 94 Long Pond Road, Hewitt, NJ 07421. All donations are tax deductible.