Eagle Scout creates rosary garden in memory of pastor

By Maria LeDoux
The Catholic Free Press

A rosary garden at North American Martyrs Parish in Auburn was dedicated to the late Father John F. Gee, the pastor of the parish for 30 years. The garden was a young parishioner’s Eagle Scout project.
Father Gee died in December 2021 at the age of 94. The garden dedication occurred in the early evening Saturday, May 28, after a Mass celebrated by Bishop McManus. Father Gee’s niece, Anne Hogan, travelled from Delaware to attend the celebration. A parish dinner followed the dedication.
Nicholas Hunter, 18, a parishioner of North American Martyrs and recent graduate of Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School in Charlton, came up with the idea of a rosary garden for his Eagle Scout project. An Eagle Scout has the duty to create a project for which the Scout must demonstrate leadership for the benefit of a school, his community, or a religious institution.
A Boy Scout since first grade, Mr. Hunter became an Eagle Scout in November of 2021 after completing his Eagle Board of Review.     
“I knew from early on that I wanted my project to be at North American Martyrs because it has been my home parish for my whole life and is also the sponsoring organization for Troop 121,” he said.
Father Gee had been his pastor for the majority of those years.
“I always felt that the back corner of the yard where the garden is now located needed something special,” he said.
The Scout wanted to include the children’s memorial bench that “was forgotten about in the corner by itself.” The bench was the only thing on that area of land where he successfully constructed the garden.     
“I wanted to incorporate it into my project and give new life to it ... I had found a similar idea online and adapted it to form the basis of my project,” said Mr. Hunter.
With the permission of the parish and the help of Mr. Hunter’s family, friends, and fellow troop members, “the project was completed in a total of three workdays over the span of multiple months,” he said. The time spent constructing the project included the generous donation of time from volunteers – totaling 227 hours.
Why a rosary garden for an Eagle Scout project? Mr. Hunter stated, “The rosary seemed like an appropriate choice because it gives the garden a unique purpose. Father Gee regularly celebrated the rosary outside of the church … I felt it was the right thing to do to dedicate the rosary garden in his honor.” He said that Father Gee celebrated his baptism, first Communion, and “was always a welcoming person.”
Father Gee was ordained to the priesthood on June 13, 1953, by Bishop John J. Wright in the Diocese of Worcester. A priest for 68 years, Father Gee was appointed pastor of North American Martyrs Parish, Auburn, June 29, 1990, and served for 30 years.
 Mr. Hunter humbly stated that the project in honor of Father Gee “would not have been possible without the support of my family, friends, Troop 121, and North American Martyrs, as well as the numerous local businesses and organizations who supplied materials and funding for the project.” Businesses that provided materials were Larry’s Landscape Supply, Camosse Masonry Supply, Bells Lawn and Garden, and The Farmer’s Daughter. The Knights of Columbus in Auburn donated $550 to cover the remaining expenses.
“The dedication was well attended and served as a nice conclusion to my Eagle project,” Mr. Hunter stated. “I hope that the garden can be used as a teaching tool for religious education classes to learn the rosary.” In the fall, Mr. Hunter will be attending Keene State College in New Hampshire to study construction safety.