By Elena Perri • Posted October 7, 2025

Transfiguration is not a term typically associated with trees, but members of St. Robert Bellarmine Parish in Warrington recently witnessed the reincarnation of beloved oak tree on the parish campus.

The tree, which had been standing for decades before the parish was founded in 1968, was damaged when a windstorm hit the Bucks County area in the summer of 2023.

The storm caused a large branch to fall on a driveway near the church which raised safety concerns due to students using that area to walk from the school to the church and gym.

“We had to take the tree down because I was afraid of (more) branches falling,” said Msgr. James Beisel, pastor of St. Robert’s. “A lot of people were upset because it was a beautiful tree.”

After the top of the approximately 35-foot tree was removed, about 15 feet of the trunk remained. Mary Landry, parish business manager, proposed turning the trunk into a wooden religious sculpture. Landry began researching chainsaw artists and found one who happened to live in Pennsylvania.

“She contacted three chainsaw artists, and we selected Paul (Waclo) because he was the only one who had human figures in his portfolio,” Msgr. Beisel said. “We wanted to make sure we hired somebody who was able to create a human face and expression.”

The pastor decided the tree sculpture would depict Jesus, the Good Shepherd, since the parish already has statues of the Blessed Mother, St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Francis of Assisi, and St. Joseph on the property.

“I wanted people to see that Jesus carries not only the lamb, but Jesus carries each of us individually in our journey of faith,” Msgr. Beisel said. “It’s a powerful image of our relationship with the Shepherd.”

Patience was a virtue that parishioners needed because the waiting list for “Chainsaw Paul” was six to eight months. Funds also had to be secured for the carving project.

Parishioners stepped up and donated the $20,000 needed to complete the sculpture. One church member even fabricated the metal staff that is positioned in the Good Shepherd’s right hand.

“It didn’t cost the parish anything,” said Msgr. Beisel. “We’re going to create a garden around it, and somebody already wants to buy a bench for the area.”

He added that the parish will pay for a plaque on the tree with donor names engraved on it.

While Chainsaw Paul was working on the sculpture, St. Joseph/St. Robert School students talked with the artist and watched as he carved the likeness of the Good Shepherd onto the trunk.

“That was great because the classes came out and watched,” Msgr. Beisel said. “They had a great time.”

Parishioners also had the opportunity to take scraps of wood that were left over. “Everything was used when the tree was taken down,” he said.

The artist, who spent about two weeks carving the sculpture, told the pastor that he was impressed with the quality of the wood.

“He said it was furniture-quality oak,” Msgr. Beisel explained. “Some of the pieces were big enough to make end tables.”

The sculpture itself is approximately 12 feet tall and begins about three feet from the base of the tree.

“Neighbors who are not even part of the (parish) community have stopped to look at it,” he said. “A lot of people are taking pictures of it. I even saw a man taking a selfie the other day.”

While St. Robert’s may have become the only parish in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia with such a unique statue, Msgr. Biesel noted that the primary goal was preserving a tree that was alive when the parish was founded.

“It also gives witness to people who travel through the property that the Good Shepherd is watching over us,” he added.

Parishioners have expressed admiration for the skill and care the artist put into the sculpture.

“They are overwhelmingly thrilled with what has taken place there,” he said. “I’ve had nothing but overwhelmingly positive responses. They just think it’s beautiful.”