Scout Sunday?

[BennyBoy89]

Today my parish celebrated “Boy Scout Sunday” at the 11:30 Mass. The deacon gave the homily and invited one of the scouts to come up and help him with a “demonstration.” After the profession of faith, the priest gave a blessing over several cub scouts and the deacon awarded them each some sort of pin for their uniforms. There was a lot of applause throughout Mass. Is this licit? Has this happened at anyone else’s parish?

I think the traditionalists may have gained a new convert…

 

[puzzleannie]

there is a Catholic award called Ad Altari Dei for scouting, the requirements are set by the Church in cooperation with BSA, and a priest or someone he delegates sees to it that the boys complete the requirements. Participation in RE, CCD or Catholic school is one of them, there are others, similar to a Confirmation service project. Scout Sunday in Feb is a very appropriate time to give the awards and recognition during Mass, as we would for anyone else in a Catholic organization or activity.

 

[Phemie]

Today my parish celebrated “Boy Scout Sunday” at the 11:30 Mass. The deacon gave the homily and invited one of the scouts to come up and help him with a “demonstration.” After the profession of faith, the priest gave a blessing over several cub scouts and the deacon awarded them each some sort of pin for their uniforms. There was a lot of applause throughout Mass. Is this licit? Has this happened at anyone else’s parish?

I think the traditionalists may have gained a new convert…

The Scouting Movement in conjunction with the various Churches have a Religion-in-Life Award which kids at all levels of scouting can earn. The Churches set the requirements. Considering how few kids bother to earn that one, having Cubs accomplish this should be recognized and celebrated by their parish.

 

[Eilish_Maura]

there is a Catholic award called Ad Altari Dei for scouting, the requirements are set by the Church in cooperation with BSA, and a priest or someone he delegates sees to it that the boys complete the requirements. Participation in RE, CCD or Catholic school is one of them, there are others, similar to a Confirmation service project. Scout Sunday in Feb is a very appropriate time to give the awards and recognition during Mass, as we would for anyone else in a Catholic organization or activity.

There are several Catholic awards available to Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts.

Check them out at National Catholic Committee on Scouting for the Boy and Cub Scout ones:

nccs-bsa.org/emblems-awards/emblems.php

And the National Federation of Catholic Youth Ministry for Girl Scout ones:

nfcym.org/gscf/recognitions.htm

 

[Eilish_Maura]

The Scouting Movement in conjunction with the various Churches have a Religion-in-Life Award which kids at all levels of scouting can earn. The Churches set the requirements. Considering how few kids bother to earn that one, having Cubs accomplish this should be recognized and celebrated by their parish.

Sadly too many Catholic parishes don’t or won’t charter packs or troops these days.

Add to that too many parents have no interest in learning about these programs to offer them and help the kids earn them despite Duty to God being primary in Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts.

 

[Phemie]

Sadly too many Catholic parishes don’t or won’t charter packs or troops these days.

Add to that too many parents have no interest in learning about these programs to offer them and help the kids earn them despite Duty to God being primary in Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts.

I’m sure my parish would charter a group but I doubt that it has ever been approached. The only pack & troop in our town are sponsored by the Kinsmen Club. But there is so little interest in it that it’s very discouraging for the Scouters. The troop has 3 scouts and 2 Scouters, one being my DH. There are 6 Cubs in the pack and a husband & wife team of Scouters along with, again, DH. AFAIK, not one of the kids or any of the adults are Catholic.

 

[Eilish_Maura]

I’m sure my parish would charter a group but I doubt that it has ever been approached. The only pack & troop in our town are sponsored by the Kinsmen Club. But there is so little interest in it that it’s very discouraging for the Scouters. The troop has 3 scouts and 2 Scouters, one being my DH. There are 6 Cubs in the pack and a husband & wife team of Scouters along with, again, DH. AFAIK, not one of the kids or any of the adults are Catholic.

The pastor can ask that someone come and talk to him, the parents and the boys

It is neither hard nor expensive to start a pack for Cubs or Troop for older boys or a Crew for the Venturing program.

It is an investment in the youth of the parish.

Nothing ventured - nothing gained.

 

[Uncle_Norbert]

Our parish has sponsored a troop for many years. We used to “celebrate” Scout Sunday, with a similar event during Mass.

However, a few years ago, to the dismay of many…our pastor discontinued the practice. He also discontinued the “Corporate Communion” recognition for the KofC group.

I asked him privately what the issue was, and he stated that because of the “celebration”, other groups within the church wanted similar special occasion treatement, and that things were getting out of hand and distracting from the celebration of The Eucharist.

 

[Phemie]

The pastor can ask that someone come and talk to him, the parents and the boys

It is neither hard nor expensive to start a pack for Cubs or Troop for older boys or a Crew for the Venturing program.

It is an investment in the youth of the parish.

Nothing ventured - nothing gained.

There’s little interest in Scouting in our town, even less in our parishioners. In this town it’s all about hockey & soccer. I can’t count the number of kids who miss Mass on a regular basis because of these two sports.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Today my parish celebrated “Boy Scout Sunday” at the 11:30 Mass. The deacon gave the homily and invited one of the scouts to come up and help him with a “demonstration.” After the profession of faith, the priest gave a blessing over several cub scouts and the deacon awarded them each some sort of pin for their uniforms. There was a lot of applause throughout Mass. Is this licit? Has this happened at anyone else’s parish?

I think the traditionalists may have gained a new convert…

As a former Scout Master and Troop Committee Chairman. Scout Sunday was always observed in the parish. It was never “incorporated” into the Mass. The Scouters, Scouts and Cubs would always wear their uniforms to that Mass, any Scout or Cub even if they belonged to another troop. The bulletin would have a special insert and a display table for the parish troop. Scouting values could be incorporated into the homily, just like the pope has done in the past to honor Scouting. It needs to be remembered that Scouting was adopted by the U.S. Bishops in the 1930’s as the official youth camping program of the Catholic Church. The Church decided to use the Scouting program instead of developing their own summer camps. There were more troops at one time sponsored by Catholic organizations and parishes than all others combined. Scouting awards were given out after Mass was over. By the way also the Catholic religious awards are given to the Scout and Cub by the Catholic Church (The Catholic Committee on Scouting of the USCCB) not by the BSA.

 

[scylla]

The pastor can ask that someone come and talk to him, the parents and the boys

It is neither hard nor expensive to start a pack for Cubs or Troop for older boys or a Crew for the Venturing program.

It is an investment in the youth of the parish.

Nothing ventured - nothing gained.

I have heard about Catholic packs, does your parish have one?

I never was a boy scout but I always wanted to be one growing up. I have two young daughters who are kinda wimpy\squeamish and I am looking to get them into something like scouting to help them with that. They did soccer this year and it really was good for them.

God Bless
Scylla

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I’m sure my parish would charter a group but I doubt that it has ever been approached. The only pack & troop in our town are sponsored by the Kinsmen Club. But there is so little interest in it that it’s very discouraging for the Scouters. The troop has 3 scouts and 2 Scouters, one being my DH. There are 6 Cubs in the pack and a husband & wife team of Scouters along with, again, DH. AFAIK, not one of the kids or any of the adults are Catholic.

Sometimes the support for Scouting is not there. There must be at least 5 active Scouts, two Scouters (one BSA trained), and a minimum troop committee in order to charter a troop or pack. It sounds like they don’t have the necessary minimum any longer and should probably shut down.

 

[Phemie]

Sometimes the support for Scouting is not there. There must be at least 5 active Scouts, two Scouters (one BSA trained), and a minimum troop committee in order to charter a troop or pack. It sounds like they don’t have the necessary minimum any longer and should probably shut down.

Remember that we’re not in the US and we live in an isolated community.

 

[Eilish_Maura]

Remember that we’re not in the US and we live in an isolated community.

LOL - scouting has ways around that!! Both Boy and Girl scout programs have a ‘lone scout’ program and both are international.

 

[Eilish_Maura]

I have heard about Catholic packs, does your parish have one?

I never was a boy scout but I always wanted to be one growing up. I have two young daughters who are kinda wimpy\squeamish and I am looking to get them into something like scouting to help them with that. They did soccer this year and it really was good for them.

God Bless
Scylla

I was part of leadership for a Pack in my parish.

My pastor agreed to have it then did everything he could to undermine it.

I think he agreed to have it because the current Bishop supports scouting.

 

[Phemie]

LOL - scouting has ways around that!! Both Boy and Girl scout programs have a ‘long scout’ program and both are international.

I just meant that the rules for Scouts Canada and those for BSA are probably vastly different. If nothing else our colonies, packs & troops are co-ed.

 

[Eilish_Maura]

I just meant that the rules for Scouts Canada and those for BSA are probably vastly different. If nothing else our colonies, packs & troops are co-ed.

Probably not that ‘vastly different’. If they were they would not be under Boy Scouts but some other organization.

 

[acadian]

We have our “Scout Sunday” in a few weeks. The Cub Scouts all wear their uniforms and have a part in the Mass (altar servers, readers, offeratory, etc). Religious awards are awarded after Mass by the celebrant or by the parent who was in charge of religious awards.

Our Pack is sponsored by our Catholic school, and we have the Mass at one of the parishes affiliated with the school. Our troop (5 boys and growing) is sponsored by a nearby Catholic church and an retailer of outdoor equipment.

 

[Phemie]

I just checked the calendar to find that “Thinking Day” is on the 17th. Our Scouts and Girl Guides are usually welcomed at the Anglican or United Church parishes on that day. I think the last time we had a Catholic Scout in the troop was when our son was there 9 years ago. I don’t know any of our parishioners with kids in the movement.

 

[Eilish_Maura]

I just checked the calendar to find that “Thinking Day” is on the 17th. Our Scouts and Girl Guides are usually welcomed at the Anglican or United Church parishes on that day. I think the last time we had a Catholic Scout in the troop was when our son was there 9 years ago. I don’t know any of our parishioners with kids in the movement.

Then they are missing out on a valid form of youth ministry.