The news of Susan’s appointment also came with news of the Bishop’s acceptance of a proposed structure for the committee.  The tasks before us right now are to finalize a committee structure, establish standing committees and leadership for these committees, committee by-laws and procedures which need to be in compliance with Diocese of Fall River Child Protection policies as well as those policies established by the relevant scouting organizations.  Information will be coming soon.

Please join me in congratulating Susan and wishing her luck has she begins her new role in Catholic Scouting!

-Fr. David

First, next Wed (March 23) there will be an online Region I meeting.  Feel free to join in if you like.  Access information is:

1.  Please join my meeting, Wednesday, March 23 at 7:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time.

https://www3.gotomeeting.com/join/118668942

2.  Use your microphone and speakers (VoIP) – a headset is recommended.  Or, call in using your telephone.

Dial +1 (312) 878-3074
Access Code: 118-668-942
Audio PIN: Shown after joining the meeting

Meeting ID: 118-668-942

GoToMeeting®
Online Meetings Made Easy™

A couple of things in addition to this:

The renewal process has been proceeding.  I am awaiting some information from Bishop Coleman before the next phase is able to begin.  Once that has been received, things should start moving pretty quickly.  Stay tuned for details!

I have had a couple of inquiries about a retreat.  Here is the issue:  Current Diocesan Youth Protection policies hold that if we are to sponsor an event such as a retreat, every adult present would have to participate in the Diocesan youth protection training and CORI check in addition to that required by the scouting programs.

I have been in contact with the office that oversees all of this.  There are a couple of possibilities being explored, so the door has not been permanently closed to a retreat experience.  The Crew will be looking at some other options in terms of bringing focus on a scout is reverent to our scouts.

One of the key components to the renewal of scouting in the Diocese of Fall River is to improve communications.  This blog is part of that solution.  Each Thursday a “Thursday Update” will be posted to pass along news and information concerning scouting in the Diocese.  Items to be considered in this update may be mailed to me at fatherdavid@catholicscout.org.

There is some confusion that I would like to clear up.  Contact information for religious emblems and other matters dealing with scouting in the Diocese can be sent to me at the following address: P.O. Box 1558, Pocasset, MA 02559 508-563-5887.  I am using St. John’s in Pocasset as the scouting office.  In addition, as we use this spring to put into place a new committee structure, religious emblems will be awarded in the Parishes.  Once new structures are put into place and procedures around child protection, counselor certification and training are implemented, we will look at reestablishing the annual scout mass at the Cathedral.

Over the last year there have been some concerns raised about the Catholic Church’s relationship with Girl Scouting.  These have revolved around claims of a partnership with Planned Parenthood and the WAGGGS.  Recently new concerns have prompted some campaigns by some to work to severe this relationship.  The National Federation of Catholic Youth Ministry, the umbrella organization for Youth Ministry in the Catholic Church here in the United States has had several conversations and meetings with Girl Scouts USA to address these concerns and to ascertain what is their position with these organizations and related events and activities.  They have recently updated their position statement concerning their partnership with GS of the USA.  Please visit www.nccgscf.org to read this statement.

Preliminary work has been going on for the Renewal and there will some important announcements concerning meetings in the coming weeks.

The Catholic Committee has seen much success in its history, in terms of numbers of scouts participating in the emblems programs, retreats, and scouting in general.  There has been a noticeable drop these past 10 years, a drop noticed not just in scouting, but in youth ministry and other youth serving organizations.  The number of scouts earning religious emblems is less than 1%.  But there are more alarming figures than this. Our chartered units are dropping, and last year we had a significant drop in the number of scouts in the BSA programs, and I can only assume that this was reflected in Girl Scouting in the diocese.  Another major concern, one that has been identified by members of the Diocesan Catholic Committee, and one that is at the heart of these declines, is the low numbers of Catholics who attend mass.  If the faith isn’t being celebrated, it can’t be lived and if it is not being lived, why spend anytime with religious emblems or even the proposition that a scout is reverent?

That is the bad news.

There is good news.  These trends have occurred throughout our country and in terms of a national view, the trends are reversing themselves.  We have the benefit of seeing how the Church has responded elsewhere in the country.  The creation of Crew 1904 is part of this response.  We now have a number of high school and college age youth involved in Catholic Scouting.  They are coming up on a year old now, a year spent in organizing themselves and learning about scouting and its relationship with the Catholic Church.  In addition to their own spiritual and leadership development and service to the Diocese of Fall River, they are being entrusted with the organization of activities for our scouts of all ages.  However, more needs to be done.

The Bishop has stated three goals.  They are: a desire that more youth and parishes become involved in scouting, an increase in religious emblems, promotion of the vocations of marriage, religious life and priesthood.  In Catholic theology ministry is done in the name and at the discretion of the Bishop of the diocese.  The three goals he has mentioned actually address the needs facing us very well.  In light of this direction provided by Bishop Coleman, as well as what Youth Ministry has discovered in terms of best and most effective practices in recent years, I am announcing the following:

1.        The Catholic Committees on Scouting, as they have existed, will cease effectively immediately.  In there place will be a new, single committee will be created, utilizing a structure that reflects the desires of Bishop Coleman, the mission of the scouting programs and the national bodies that oversee our ministry to youth.  The new committee will be in place July 1, 2011.

2. All scouts currently working on religious emblems will continue to do so.  Emblems will be awarded this year (2010-2011) in their parishes.

3. Detailed procedures and policies concerning Religious Emblems, emblems counselor qualifications and certification, communication and adult recognitions will be established and implemented by July 1, 2011.

4. A Marketing and Membership Campaign will be put together to be rolled out in August 2011.  This campaign will run for a year.  It will serve to celebrate 100 years of scouting, as well as promote scouting and its programs to all of our catholic children and youth.

5. Susan Rogers has agreed to serve as a Transition Chair over the next few months.  An organizational meeting will take place in late February or early March 2011.

A link will be put on the website soon that will allow any interested to submit their email to receive continual updates on this renewal process.  In addition, anyone interested in being a part of this important work is invited to join us.  The date for the organizational meeting will be announced in mid-February.

The Catholic Church has long utilized the scouting programs as a valuable means in forming our youth to be responsible leaders in their communities and the Church.  This partnership remains and this renewal will greatly benefit our youth and future generations.

In Christ,

Fr. David

Bishop Bob has been a longtime member of the NCCS, serving in a number of capacities, including National Chapain.  He has also serves as Chaplain to the International Committee.

This is a very important meeting.  The National Catholic Committee on Scouting has been involved in a process of renewal.  On the regional level it has become apparent that we too need to embrace this renewal and identify ways that we can better communicate what we have to offer to dioceses, parishes and our Catholic scouts and their families.  Also, how can we utilize the technology available to us to facilitate better and increased communications between the dioceses.  OUr Fall gatherings are very special and we need to work to ensure that we have the proper supports in place to assist dioceses in hosting the event.  We will be working on doing just that at this meeting.

I am looking forward to heading out there later today, but realize that tomorrow will also be a very busy day for us.

St. Anne, pray for us.  St. George, pray for us.  Holy Mary, Mother of God and our Mother, pray for us.

Peace,

Fr. David

Also, if you are  parent or adult volunteer and would be interested in helping the Committee in fulfilling its mission of support scouting and scouts, please send Fr. David an email (fatherdavid@catholicscout.org).

If you are a high school student in scouting (Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts) and would like to participate in the work of the committee, Venture Crew 1904 is for you!  More information can be found on the website, emailing Father David or visiting us on Facebook!

Those who have twitter, if you follow Catholicscout, you will get a daily thought and updates from the Committee as they happen.