Help Wanted!!!

The Catholic Committee on Scouting is seeking help for its work in Catholic Scouting.

The following are areas of need (as of today-more to come soon!):

Subcommittees for the Joint Committee (both Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts):

Scout Mass: This annual event celebrates Scouting as Youth Ministry and awards the older Scout religious emblems as well as adult recognitions and National recognitions. The Committee will need to begin work for the 2009 Mass.

Marketing/Publicity: This committee is responsible for the Quarterly newsletter, regular communications of the Catholic Committee and marketing efforts.

Boy Scout Catholic Committee sub-committees:

100 Yrs of Scouting Celebration Committee

Religious Activities

Religious Emblems

Vocations

Membership

If interested, please contact the Catholic Scouting Office at 508-362-8122 or dfrccs@aol.com

Louisville con't....

I only have a few minutes to post something quick. The Mass last evening was celebrated at the Cathedral of the Assumption which is a couple of blocks from the Hotel (how about that, we share a similar named cathedral). Bishop Gettlefinger (who is referred to as "Padre" was the celebrant. Padre is the episcopal liason the NCCS. The Regional meeting was informative as we were introduced to some of the new regional leadership and some "previews" of what is to be presented this week were presented.

Today began with breakfast on the restaurant on the top of the hotel. The restaurant revolves so you have a continually changing view of Louisville during your meal. I took some pictures, but don't have a cord to the camera I used. I was planning on taking pictures with my cell phone, but left the charger back home--and here isn't a cell phone store nearby. oh, well.

This afternoon was the first General Session and the topic was the NCCS self study. If you go to www.nccs-bsa.org you will find posted the report and a summary report. This is phase one of the study. Phase 2 will begin after the meeting and will look at internal structures.

The meeting was spent addressing some of the recommendations presented in the report. There will be further work and discussions tomorrow. Any type of process like this is very demanding and at times tense. It was a good meeting and there was some progress, but it was a long and tiring afternoon.

Right now, we are headed to the Cathedral for a Mass celebrated by Archbishop Kurtz of the Archdiocese of Louisville, followed by a relaxing evening of southern hospitality.

More to come...

By the way, some news for you: the Region I conference will be held on October 4 at Camp Carpenter in Manchester New Hampshire. We were notified with the date late Monday night. Details will be coming in a couple of months. Art and I want to see if we can implement some of the recommendations for these regional events that were based on diocesan feedback.

Arrived!

Good Afternoon!

Arrived in Louisville at 11AM this morning. It was a bumpy ride, but I've made it in one piece. It is good to see the many committed Catholic Committee members and volunteers from around the country--I've spent the last couple of hours reconnecting with many people. I'm off to my first meeting: Regional Chair/Chaplains and Diocesan Chair/Chaplains--a two hour meeting to get updated by the Executive Committee and hear what has been happening in Catholic Scouting throughout the country. I'll give a more complete update this evening. Off to the meeting!

Off to Louisville!!!

The 2008 Biennial Conference is this week. This is an opportunity for Scouters from across the country to come together, share new ideas, meet new people, reconnect with old friends and celebrate the special relationship between The Catholic Church and BSA. In addition, there will be meetings of the various committees and leadership of the National Catholic Committee on Scouting.

I will post here throughout the week from Louisville (I fly out tomorrow morning). Please keep the NCCS and those travelling in your prayers.

Bishop Coleman prepares to distribute religious emblems to scouts.

Thank you to all who were a part of our annual scouting mass. Scouting and the Catholic Church have had a long and fruitful relationship. It was nice to be able to celebrate the accomplishments of our scouts who earned religious emblems, as well as to recognize the work that has been done by adult volunteers in scouting and those who serve on the Catholic Committee on Scouting. Now work begins for the future!

2008 Diocesan Scout Mass

The 2008 Diocesan Scout Mass will be held next Sunday, March 2, 2008 at 4:30PM at St. Mary's Cathedral in Fall River. The Most Rev. George Coleman will be the principal celebrant and homilest.

This annual event celebrates the relationship between the Catholic Church and Scouting, the achievements of our Catholic Scouts in their parishes and communities, and honoring those who have earned religious emblems.

Please join us for this special celebration!

Help Wanted!

The Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting is looking for members! The committee seeks to promote scouting to the youth of our diocese and to provide opportunities (such as retreats, religious emblems, patches, etc.) to help the youth learn more about their Catholic Faith through Scouting. Volunteers are needed for both our boy scout committee and girl scout committee to help with: religious emblems, activities, publicity, and training. For further information, please contact Fr. David Frederici, Diocesan Scout Chaplain at 508-362-8122 or dfrccs@aol.com