The idea had been floating around for years — a quiet corner of the parish grounds where families could sit together, where children could play in the shade, and where the spirit of community could breathe a little more freely. Finally, this spring, that dream has begun to take shape at St. John Bosco Parish. But to see it through completion, the project needs the support of the entire community.
The vision is simple in concept but rich in meaning: a handsome wooden gazebo, surrounded by flowering trees, furnished with sturdy picnic tables, and anchored by a bronze statue of St. John Bosco himself — the beloved patron of youth, always depicted with a warm smile and an open hand.
Father Miguel Reyes announced the initiative at Sunday Mass in late March, and the initial response was encouraging. Dozens of parishioners signed up to volunteer, and several materials were donated within the first week. “This is what St. John Bosco was all about,” Father Reyes told the congregation. “Bringing people together, especially the young. A place like this — outside, under the open sky — that’s a gift to the whole neighborhood.” He paused before adding, “But we cannot do it alone. We need your help to make this a reality.”
Work has already begun on a section of the east end of the church lawn. A small crew of volunteers, led by retired carpenter and longtime parishioner Gene Hoffmann, has laid the foundation for the gazebo — a planned octagonal structure with a cedar-shingled roof and white-painted railings. Gene designed it himself, drawing inspiration from old photographs of the parish’s founding years. “I want it to feel like it has always been here,” he said. “But right now, it’s just a foundation and a dream. We need more hands and more resources.”
The landscaping plans call for four young oak trees to be planted around the gazebo for summer shade, along with clusters of lilac bushes along the perimeter fence — chosen because they bloom each year around the parish’s beloved spring festival. Picnic tables are planned both inside the gazebo and across the surrounding lawn. However, only one table has been built so far, and the trees remain unpurchased, waiting in a local nursery for funding to arrive.
Perhaps the most anticipated element is the statue — a commissioned bronze depiction of Don Bosco kneeling beside a young child, meant to embody his gentle, ever-present spirit. Local artist Carla Vásquez has completed the design, but the casting cannot begin until the remaining funds are raised.
The parish is asking for donations of any size, as well as volunteers willing to give a Saturday morning to help build tables, plant trees, or assist with construction. Every contribution, large or small, brings the project one step closer to the finish line.
“We have the vision,” Father Reyes said recently, looking out over the half-started grounds. “Now we just need the community to help us build it — together.”