By Katie Vasquez
A parish that prays together and paints together.
About 40 people at Our Lady of Grace Church in Gravesend have donated their time to give this adoration chapel a makeover.
“At least 20 years, 20, 25 years, it hasn’t been really improved upon,” said the Our Lady of Grace Church pastor, Father Guy Sbordone.
It’s a popular spot for the Brooklyn parish with hundreds coming in every month to pray before the blessed sacrament.
“302 people were here for the month of November 2023. So that’s a huge number to come in every day,” said Our Lady of Grace parishioner, Mary Ann De Luca.
But after decades of use, parishioner Mary Ann De Luca, noticed the chapel was starting to get into disrepair and suggested Troop 376 Scout Joseph Rotondi bring new life into the sacred space.
“There’s some issues on the floor. We’re going to put new tiles in. The lights, we just changed the light bulbs. but it was very dark in here for a very long time,” said Rotondi. “We also gave it a fresh coat of paint, of course.”
Joseph is taking on the job for his leadership project, a task which would elevate him to an Eagle Scout.
“Any project that serves the community, you have to carry it out, plan it,” said Rotondi.
His part of the project is to lead.
“You’re not even supposed to, like, touch like, you know, actual work,” said Rotondi.
And even his parents say Joseph can be a tough boss.
“He fired me three times yesterday,” said Joseph’s father, Anthony Rotondi.
Everyone agrees he has brought the volunteers together and transformed the space.
“He just tackles anything and he gives everything 150 percent,” said Joseph’s mother, Nicoleta Rotondi.
“He’s done a great job delegating responsibility and roles. He knows people well. He knows what they’re good at, what they’re sort of, what they do better, in a sense. So he knows what roles to give certain people,” said volunteer, Colin Thompson.
But as fun as it was to paint together, Joseph is most excited for his parish to pray here together again.
“They’re really devoted, I’ve seen people that come every day here and they stay for a half an hour or 45 minutes and pray here, which is really, really amazing that they devote so much time to the Eucharist,” said Rotondi. “It’s great that they’re working together and we’re completing this project. It feels great.”
There’s still a lot of work to be done here so the adoration chapel will be closed for a week until it’s all finished.