BETHEL PARK, PA

The Congregation of the Holy Spirit Province of the United States has been fortunate to have several local Boy Scouts lead Eagle Projects to improve Spiritan facilities in Bethel Park, Pa., home of the provincial offices, Libermann Hall and the Spiritan Center.

Geneo Simeone’s Eagle Scout Project

In October 2017, Geneo Simeone of Boy Scout Troop 4 led an Eagle Project to clear out the courtyard koi pond, build a dam, insert a new pump, pull plants and generally clean up the surrounding area. Then in November, he and his team of fellow scouts, family and friends helped the property manager, Ken Rankin, with his yearly leaf cleanup in the driveway. This project greatly enhanced the courtyard and helped Mr. Rankin.

Geneo is a junior at Bethel Park High School. He plays the alto saxophone in the Bethel Park Marching Band and Concert Band, attends Westinghouse Science Honors Institute and just attained the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America. Geneo and his family are members of Saint Louise De Marillac Catholic church in Upper Saint Clair. Geneo plans to obtain an undergraduate degree in biology and then proceed to medical school after high school.

Ben Kowenhoven’s Eagle Scout Project

Earlier in the year, in May 2017, Ben Kowenhoven of Boy Scout Troop 228 in Bethel Park, Pa., performed his Eagle Scout project at Libermann Hall. With help from fellow scouts, family, and friends, Ben constructed a 50-foot privacy fence to enclose the courtyard and garden area. The fence will keep wildlife from entering the facility’s garden, which provides fresh produce for the residents.

Ben, a senior at Central Catholic High School, collected donations from family, friends, and local businesses to fund the project. He is an altar server at St. Thomas More Church and has been a Boy Scout since fifth grade, attaining the Eagle Scout rank in the fall of 2017. After high school, Ben plans to attend a service academy to study mechanical engineering and business.

Alex Gala’s Eagle Scout Project

And in April 2017, Alex Gala of Boy Scout Troop 228 in Bethel Park performed his Eagle Scout Service Project at the Spiritan Center. Alex, along with fellow scouts, scout leaders and family volunteers, constructed a new 200-foot split rail fence along the side of the Center abutting the hillside. The old fence had deteriorated and in many places had fallen down, making walking along the path unsafe for our priests and retreat visitors.

Alex is pleased that his Eagle Service Project will be a permanent addition to the Center and have a lasting impact on the lives of the priests and Spiritan Center visitors. Alex was able to raise all the funds necessary to build the new fence through donations from family and friends.

Alex is a senior at Central Catholic High School and attended St. Thomas More grade school. He is a parishioner at St. John Capistran Church and has been a scout in Troop 228 since fifth grade and attained Eagle Scout rank in June 2017. Alex enjoys being a scout and helping serve others in the community. He is glad to follow in the footsteps of his father, three uncles and cousin by becoming an Eagle Scout.

Note: Additional projects have since been started by other Boy Scouts and will be shared upon their completion.