Eagle Scout sets up outdoor Stations of the Cross

April 22, 2024

By Sue Evans

“We adore thee, O Christ and we bless you.  Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.”

With these words on this past Good Friday, parishioners of Christ the King Catholic Church in Des Moines prayed the Stations of the Cross.  But this year a new and special tradition began by walking the path of the stations outdoors.

Seamus O’Keefe, 18, and a member of Christ the King Parish, completed his Eagle Scout project through the Boy Scouts of America with the installation of the 14 Stations of the Cross on the perimeter of the playground on the parish and school campus, at the northeast corner of the intersection of Wall Street and Southwest 7th Street.

The year-long project culminated with the blessing and praying of the stations on Good Friday.

“I feel the stations will bring the people of the parish closer together and closer to God,” O’Keefe said, adding that they will provide an option for those who like to pray the stations outside.  

The stations are located along an asphalt pathway on the playground.

In March 2023, O’Keefe asked Jason Feeney, coordinator of youth ministry at Christ the King, for help in finding an idea for his Eagle Scout project. They consulted the pastor, Father P.J. McManus, who recommended they use a set of hand-carved Stations of the Cross that had been donated to the parish. 

So, planning began. With the assistance of his parents, Sean and Pam, and siblings, scout leaders and fellow scouts from his Troop 383 in Altoona, members of the CTK Youth Group and confirmation class and Christ the King staff, O’Keefe began work on the project in August of 2023.  

They weatherproofed the shadow boxes, which contain the stations and attached them to the posts. 

After approximately 125 hours of labor, the construction and installation of the stations was completed in November. The project cost about $465 and 18 people worked on its completion. 

More than 100 people walked the Stations of the Cross late on a warm Good Friday afternoon. Father McManus blessed each of the stations and then returned to the first station for prayer. 

“Seeing the first use of the stations and the blessing of them was something special,” said O’Keefe.  “I had known it was going to be a relatively large event, but I hadn’t realized just how it would actually be. It was very special to see and I am glad that I was able to do it for the parish and the community and with the help from the parish and community.” 

O’Keefe is a member of the youth group at Christ the King and participant in the choir.  He has been in scouts for 12 years.