Is Working. Venturing as Youth Ministry, One Venture Crew s Story By Jerry Scanlan

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1 NATIONAL CATHOLIC COMMITTEE ON SCOUTING VOLUME 12, NO. 1 MARCH 2003 Ad-Venturing Is Working Venturing as Youth Ministry, One Venture Crew s Story By Jerry Scanlan The St. Augustine s God s TYM (Total Youth Ministry) Venture Crew was formed in September 1999 by bringing a small existing Youth Group at St. Augustine s in New City, N.Y. under the auspices of the BSA Venture Program. The addition of the Venturing program, youth protection, youth leadership, officer training, and program guidelines has immensely enhanced the program and resulted in a substantial growth in the number of youth served. The weekly meetings have been expanded to a two-hour format, with 30 minutes for gathering and socializing, 15 minutes of business, one hour for the weekly program and/or discussion topic and ending with 15 minutes of shared prayer (in which all generally participate). The camaraderie and enthusiasm of the young people is evidenced by the fact that after most meetings, 20 or more continue the discussions in the pizzeria across the street. The program has an open door policy so that any interested youth may come to the meetings, although they must register with BSA before they can participate in activities beyond the weekly meetings. This has resulted in a growth to over 30 members (not all yet registered) with in attendance at any one meeting, and about 8 at the expanded monthly officer meetings. They have also served on staff for both the Archdiocesan and Council Religious retreats, DDA (a Capuchin sponsored Teen Encounter Retreat program, where two of our Venturers serve on the Teen Advisory Council), World Youth Day (in Rome in 2000 and in Toronto in 2002), and CYO (where one of our officers also participates as an officer in the County Teen Age Federation). Venturers have also participated in CYO & DDA dances, car washes, camping, kayaking on the Hudson, skiing at Mt. Snow, Vt., participated in the Council Venturing Lock-in, and plan even more activities for the upcoming year. The youth support activities of the parish in many ways including: Advent Wreath sale, service at the Parish Volunteer Party, Canister collection for Right to Life, Thanksgiving Basket collection support, and decorating the rectory at Christmas. Venturers serve as ushers, (Continued on page 6) Also in this issue News Notes In Memoriam God s house Chair-Elect thanks NCCS voters Spotlights Youth Ministers Tie Educational Message to Venturing Youth Pastor Finds Common Themes in Ministry, Scouting Thoughts from the chair Membership Initiative Golden Bow Heroes are among us Mysteries of Light Region Five Chair Called to Activity Duty

2 Beginning April 1, 2003 the BSA will perform criminal background checks on all new adult volunteers. The system, to be called VolunteerSelect, will be administered by ChoicePoint, Inc. New adult leader applications will advise volunteers that these checks will be conducted and they will require applicant consent. Specific questions should be directed to Don York, Director of Relationships, BSA. The Knights of Columbus have instituted an application and background check process for all Knights who wish to serve as leaders in youth organizations. The procedures, announced in December, apply to new volunteers and to existing youth leaders. Training and education materials for youth protection are also being developed. Questions should be directed to Mr. Paul R. Devin, Supreme Advocate, New Haven, Conn. Full color brochure #16-436, Religious Emblems for Catholics, has been revised and is available for sale from Barb Nestel. Efforts of Jerry Scanlan, George Sparks, and Ric Laugel to bring this up-to-date are much appreciated. Item #16-440, Scouting as Youth Ministry (Cardinals), is no longer available or recommended for use. An alternative brochure is being developed. Packets of print media related to the Membership Initiative were sent to approximately 1300 NCCS Executive Board and Diocesan Committee leaders, BSA Councils, Area Directors and Region Directors in October. A supporting CD produced by the BSA A/V Division was mailed in the first week of January in time to promote the February BSA membership videoconference on February 5. The rollout process includes diocesan commitments following the BSA videoconference. Additional copies of News Notes the CD are available from the NCCS Office in Irving, Texas. In 1998, the NCCS adopted bylaws that superceded much of the organizational content of the 1934 Plan of Cooperation. The Plan of Cooperation is being rewritten to clearly describe the mission and purpose of the NCCS and its relationships with the Boy Scouts of America and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. The expectation is that the revision of the Plan of Cooperation will be submitted to the USCCB and BSA for reaffirmation. Tom Nishikubo represented the NCCS at the NFCYM annual membership meeting in Salt Lake City in January. Ed Gargiulo and Father Don Hummel presented a workshop, Boy Scouting s Relationship to Comprehensive Youth Ministry, at the NCCYM conference in December and manned a BSA- NCCS booth with George Sparks. More than 2000 youth ministers were present at this conference. Father Don Hummel and Ed Gargiulo represented the NCCS at the BSA Relationships Committee Meetings in Irving, Texas, on February 4. Several other members of the NCCS were also present (Bray Barnes, Jack Coughlin, Jerry Rocque, and Marvin Smith) as at-large members of the relationships committee. Don York reviewed 2002 operations and presented the Division management plan for The BSA reported that at year end 9,603 units (vs. 9,597) were chartered to Catholic organizations with 339,846 youth (vs. 345,600). We are losing Cub Packs about as fast as we are gaining Venture Crews. Bray Barnes and Ed Gargiulo attended a workshop of the USCCB Sub-Committee on Youth and Young Adults on February 14 in Washington, DC. Chairman Bishop Schnurr and members of the committee were present to listen to concerns of youth related and serving Catholic organizations. Many opportunities for NCCS collaboration were identified. Bray Barnes, NCCS vice-chair of finance and BSA advisory board member, has been elected to be the next chair of the NCCS. He will join the leadership team of Ed Gargiulo, national chair, and Father Don Hummel, national chaplain, as chairelect until he is installed in April of Ed Martin, Cleveland, Ohio, and Gerald Scanlan, New York, have been elected to join Tom Nishikubo and John Ribar as national vicechairmen. Lt. Col. John Halloran, NCCS Region 5 Chair, has been recalled to active duty in the Persian Gulf region. Since this duty may require more than a year, he has requested that we name a replacement until he returns. Father Jerry Fehn, Region 8 Chaplain, and Father Joe Weber, Chaplains Committee Chair, have also been called for standby military duty. An Idea To Consider For those unable to attend the Scouting In The Catholic Church Conference in Philmont this year, please consider sending a postcard or letter of encouragement to those who will be there. The conference is July 6 to July 12, Allow enough time for your mail to arrive during the conference. Sweet care packages would be welcomed as well. Send to: Philmont Scout Ranch Scouting In The Catholic Church Route 1 Box 35 Cimarron, New Mexico ATTN: Staff and Participants

3 ! Jo!Nfnpsjbn! Robert Runnels, Jr Bob Runnels passed away on Tuesday, December 17, 2002 at the age of 79. He graduated from the University of Houston with a Business Administration degree. During World War II, he joined the U.S. Army paratroopers and while training at Fort Benning, Ga, met his future bride, Billie Lee Van Houten. After the war Bob joined Folgers Coffee in Kansas City and was a prominent businessman there for 32 years. While at Folgers he rose to National Merchandising and Advertising Manager and continued in that position after the Procter and Gamble takeover of the company. He became active in many civic organizations including serving as the president of the Kaw Boy Scout Council and the first president of the newly created Heart of America Boy Scout Council. After Bob retired from Folgers, he started yet another career serving as the Kansas Catholic Conference Executive Director for 18 years. Under his supervision the conference became a leading voice for Catholic issues throughout the state of Kansas and the nation. He was a 4th degree member of the Knights of Columbus. Bob was awarded numerous honors for his work, including the St. George emblem and Catholic Youth Award for his church work, as well as the Silver Beaver Award, Silver Antelope Award and Vigil Honor/Order of the Arrow. Bob served the National Committee on Scouting in various capacities, including regional chairman , national vice-chair , and national chair Election Results are in National Chair-elect Bray Barnes - will become National Chair April 2004 National Vice-Chair Ed Martin - will assume office April 2003 Jerry Scanlan - will assume office April 2003 Ed and Jerry will replace Jim Cordek and Bill Davies. Region Chairs and Chaplains Mike Gannon - Chair Region 4a Al Tarlo - Chair Region 6 Father Jerry Fehn - Chaplain Region 8 Father Joe Powers - Chaplain Region 9 Monsignor Jim Anderson - Chaplain Region 10 Jim Burgen - Chair Region 12 Don Ellefsen - Chair Region 13 Region offices effective January 1, God s house can have many different looks By Bob Nelson, Chair of Diocese Kansas City-St. Joseph Catholic Committee on Scouting Thought you all might be interested in seeing the new Catholic Chapel constructed on the H.Roe Bartle Scout Reservation (Osceola, Mo.) by the Kansas City-St. Joseph Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting. Unlike most other Scout camps, sessions at HRB overlap Sundays, making it necessary to secure priests so the Scouts and Scouters can fulfill their Sunday obligation. Both Bishop Boland and Archbishop Keleher take turns annually to celebrate Liturgy. (The boys are always thrilled in seeing THEIR Bishop there.) Below is the link that goes to the chapel portion of the KC-St.Joe main web site: Philmont 2003 July 6 to July 12 Are You Registered?

4 Chair-Elect thanks NCCS voters I am truly honored to become your chair-elect. Over the next year, I look forward to working with Ed Gargiulo to assure that the transition in 2004 continues the momentum which he and Father Don Hummel initiated. We will have our challenges, yet I know that your leadership is up to the task of meeting those challenges and both the laity and the clergy will continue to make Catholic Scouting one of the outstanding youth ministry programs in the Catholic Church. I would be remiss if I did not extend my sincere and deepest gratitude to Bill Davies. A friend and outstanding Catholic Scouter, he is truly dedicated to NCCS. I am pleased to say that I have had the pleasure of working with Bill for over six years and look to our continued working relationship as we move forward. The position of national chair is only half of a leadership team. The other component is that of national chaplain. This relationship exists throughout our organization and is one that is valued on both sides of the equation. Father Roger LaChance never ceases to amaze me. Whether he is talking about the spiritual growth of our youth or discussing issues with a prince of the Catholic Church, he displays a warmth, compassion and command of the topic from which we all benefit. I look forward to his counsel, wisdom and guidance in his role as national chaplain. The Boy Scouts of America and the Catholic Church seem to be two American institutions which certainly have more than their fair share of critics these days. Probably, more than any other time in the history of the NCCS it is incumbent upon us to deliver the highest quality Catholic youth ministry program through the framework of the Boy Scouts of America. One of our best assets is our volunteers. Thank you for all that you do each day as a Catholic and a Scouter for our youth. It is with the utmost pride that I look forward to working with you. Throughout the next year as I prepare for the awesome task entrusted to me, I look forward to your comments, suggestions and advice. Most of all, I ask for your prayers, not only for me, but for our country, our Church, and our youth that each is able to meet their respective challenges which lay ahead. Bray Barnes, Chair-Elect of the National Catholic Committee on Scouting Bray Barnes, licensed in New Jersey and Washington, D.C., has twenty years experience in the legal profession. He primarily practices in the areas of commercial real estate, banking, bankruptcy, franchising, business and corporate law. Bray is a member of the Bar of New Jersey and the District of Columbia, United States District Court for New Jersey, United States Third Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court. He is also the principal of The Barnes Group, which provides business consulting in the areas of strategic planning and evaluation, government relations, corporate development, business analysis and financial stability. Prior to Mr. Barnes legal career, he served in law enforcement for eleven years, graduating from the New Jersey State Police Academy as class president. He served as president of the Local for the New Jersey State Policeman s Benevolent Association and later became a county detective concentrating in the areas of white-collar crime and municipal corruption. Mr. Barnes served on active duty with the United States Army as well as with the United States Army Reserves from 1970 to 1978 receiving an Honorable Discharge as a Lieutenant. Mr. Barnes is past chairman of the board of trustees of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton, immediate past chairman of the Jersey Shore Chapter of the National Conference for Community and Justice, (formerly The National Conference of Christians and Jews), past president of the Christian Brothers Academy Alumni Association and the Monmouth Council Boy Scouts of America as well as past vice-chair of the Republican National Committee Catholic Task Force. He currently serves as a member of the National Advisory Board and Relationships Committee for the Boy Scouts of America, Fourth Degree member of the Knights of Columbus, Executive Board member of the Jersey Shore Council, Boy Scouts of America, member of the Republican National Finance Committee, Republican Eagles, and the RNC s Catholic Outreach. He was recently appointed by President Bush to The President s Advisory Commission on the Arts. Mr. Barnes has received numerous recognitions including the Humanitarian Award from The National Conference of Christians and Jews and Catholic Charities, Who s Who in American Law, the Silver Beaver Award from the Monmouth Council Boy Scouts of America and the Silver Antelope from the Northeast Region - Boy Scouts of America. Mr. Barnes has also received the honor of becoming a Knight of Merit with Star, Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George. Bray and his wife, Patty, live in Toms River, N.J. and have three children. Did You Know? is now available on the Bridge Webmaster: Tony Madonia Webmaster@nccs-bsa.org

5 Catholic Committee of Diocese of Kansas City- St. Joseph Recognized for Quality The Quality Diocese CCS Award was presented at the January 19th Bishop's Award Recognition in the diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph. From left to right, Bob Nelson, Chairman of NCCS Region 9, Joy Freeland, Chairperson of the Diocesan CCS, Bishop Raymond J. Boland, and Father Joe Powers, Chaplain of NCCS Region 9. Seminarian and Catholic Scouting Leader Receives Recognition By Homer Radford Bishop Raymond Boland congratulated Steve Rogers, Seminarian for the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, and presented the Bronze Pelican, a diocesan recognition for years of service to Catholic youth in Scouting. The recognition was given during the annual ceremony by the Catholic Committee on Scouting at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Raytown, Mo. on January 19, Steve is an Eagle Scout. During SPOTLIGHTS the summer, between semesters at the Seminary, Steve works as a Camp Director at the H. Roe Bartle Scout Reservation near Osceola, Mo. and provides support for Catholic Scouts serving on the youth camp staff. Steve is in first theology at Kenrick Seminary, in St. Louis, Mo. Father Joseph Powers, Chaplain for the Committee and Region 9 Chaplain read the names of over 25 adults who work with youth in Boy Scout, Girl Scouts, and Camp Fire Boys and Girls. Julie Hill, Religious Activities Chairman, assisted with the presentation of Catholic Committee awards. Silver Antelope to be Awarded Bill Davies will be receiving the Silver Antelope at the National BSA meeting in Philadelphia in late May. This will occur at the Central Region luncheon on Thursday, May 29th. Congratulations to Bill for all his contributions to Scouting and especially to Catholic Scouting! Pack 261 shows me in Missouri By Dave Tracewell The Cub Scout Promise "I promise to do my best to do my duty to God and my country, to help other people, and to obey the Law of the Pack." Pack 261's Cubmaster Joe Doetzl, and Religious Emblems Coordinator, Kurt Killen, have been busy. Last year, in a Pack with 78 Scouts, all of the Cubs and Webelos at St. Therese Catholic Church in Parkville, Mo. earned their religious awards. In addition to earning their Light of Christ and Parvuli Dei Awards, the Scouts also earned The Millennium Patch, International Awareness Award, and the Pope Pius XI Award for the Pack. They've already earned the Golden Bow Award this year for increasing their membership to 98 Tiger, Cub, and Webelos Scouts. These leaders make sure to provide all Scouts in the Pack with opportunities to fulfill their "Duty to God," an important part of the Cub Scout promise they take seriously. Due in large part to these efforts, Pack 261 also earned the National Gold Medallion Award from the National Catholic Committee on Scouting (NCCS). This prestigious award is only given to one Pack, Troop, and Crew in each of the 14 Regions of the NCCS. Region 9, where Pack 261 earned the Award, covers four States including Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska. In addition to the youth receiving their religious awards, Father Mike Roach (Pastor at St. Therese Catholic Church), noted that Joe Doetzl and Kurt Killen had received the Bronze Pelican from the Catholic Committee on Scouting in January of The Bronze Pelican Awards were presented by Bishop Raymond J. Boland of the Diocese of Kansas City - St. Joseph. The Bronze Pelican recognizes the time, commitment, and hard work spent in promoting Catholic Scouting.

6 (Continued from page 1) sacristans, rectory office help, CCD instructors, choir, and run the outdoor Stations of the Cross on Good Friday. Many of the members have earned the Pope Pius XII Emblem. Three have also participated in the Bishop s Conference with youth as N.Y. State BSA representatives to the National Catholic Youth Conferences in Indianapolis and St. Louis. The crew has also earned the Pope Paul VI Quality Unit Award and the Gold Medallion. Topics discussed at meetings range from youth protection, divorce, suicide, abortion, alcohol and drug abuse, cults and the occult, exorcism to surviving cancer (by one of the Venturers) and Why girls have it easier than guys. Activities include a 30 hour famine (fasta-thon) during Lent, dances, activities with other youth groups in the area (we maintain cross registration with both the CYO Teen Age Federation and the Capuchin Youth and Family Ministries (CYFM) in Garrison, N.Y.). Many members participate in Teen Encounter weekends (DDA) with CYFM with at least one member generally serving as part of the retreat team. Members have helped run the council and or Archdiocesan retreat by giving witness talks to the participants. One Venturer helps run the adult Cornerstone retreat in his parish. Twenty-five members of the Crew (including 6 adult chaperones) participated in a 17 day pilgrimage to World Youth Day in Rome. The trip included a backpacking (Eurailing) trip to Prague, Dacau/Munich, canyoning/motorscootering in the Alps in Interlachen, visits to Assisi (where they hiked from the train station to the Basilica to San Damiano and through (Continued on page 7) Youth Ministers Tie Educational Message to Venturing by Randy Kollars Approximately 35 Catholic youth-ministry coordinators for the Archdiocese of Portland learned about the Venturing program as part of a three-day training event in August. Council representatives were invited to make a presentation and answer questions on Venturing for parish youth-ministry coordinators. It was extremely well received, said Randy H. Kollars, director of youth and young adult ministries for the archdiocese. I think we ll be seeing quite a few Venturing crews starting in the next year. A slide presentation featured a description of Venturing, the program that serves young men and women ages 14 through 20, including council resources, training, and recognition. The 45-minute Venturing presentation really connected with the audience, Kollars explained. The council already has received three inquiries about starting new Venturing units, and staff members are following up with other parishes. Randy H. Kollars, Archdiocese of Portland Youth-led Venturing crews specialize in a variety of vocational or hobby interests that are both service and activity oriented and often include the council s ropes course and other high-adventure experiences. The youth ministers not only learned what Venturing offers teens, Kollars said, but also how it fits their educational goals. Our program also includes a leadership training and opportunities for ropes courses, so it s a perfect overlay with a great organization, he said. It s a win-win.

7 (Continued from page 6) pastures and sunflower fields back to the station), Florence, Venice, Nice and Turin. Aside from being with the Pope and 2.5 million fellow-believing youth in Rome, the culmination of the trip in Turin included a most moving viewing of the Shroud of Turin and an extensive tour of Don Bosco s sites in Valdocco. A smaller crew of 15 also participated in World Youth Day in Toronto and experienced the awesome power of God at Niagara Falls on the pilgrimage. The impact of the program and the Venturer is evidenced by the fact that Venturers are involved in programs beyond the parish. One member was invited to be one of three youth representing the county at the turning over of the diocese to the new Archbishop. Many are active in their school programs/sports, serving as presidents of Youth Against Cancer, High School Honor Society, Youth Against Smoking (one youth has participated in a National PBS Broadcast against smoking and soccer), leaders on Encounter retreats, members of the Parish Council,... One member joined the NET (National Evangelization Team) for two years before starting college so he could better understand his possible vocation while evangelizing youth throughout the country. What is important to note is that this Venture Crew got started because Harvey Carter told me (Crew 2079 s advisor) about why he brought his Life Teen Group under the auspices of Venturing. Venturing brought the benefits of Scouting to an existing great youth program, and how great it worked. The kids did not need to adapt a standard BSA uniform, they continued to be actively engaged in Life Teen programs and had the added benefit of BSA training, facilities, insurance etc. St. Augustine s has done the same, maintaining their relationships with both CYO and Capuchin Family and Youth Ministries. You can be an independent Youth Ministry Crew, a High Adventure Crew, or you can keep existing names and programs while incorporating the benefits of Scouting. Try it! It works and it s fun! Youth Pastor Finds Common Themes in Ministry, Scouting The 1,100 members of the Greater Portland Bible Church include almost 200 youth from junior high and high school ages to college students. The Southwest Portland church charters Venturing crews as well as a Boy Scout Troop as part of the youth ministry, according to Reverend David Underwood, youth pastor. We believe, like the Boy Scouts of America, that character counts, he explained. We believe in character, integrity, and high standards. By partnering with Scouting, the church is working with an organization that shares the same values. We share the same Reverend David Underwood vision developing men and women of character and high standards. In the church s youth ministry, We try to emphasize shepherding and discipleship, he said. Reverand Underwood finds that both the Scouting philosophy and facilities enhance current programming. One adult works with a shepherding group of seven or eight youth, he explained. They use the smaller council facilities such as Phlox Hut for group work. We really appreciate being able to use these resources, he said. It s an opportunity for the teens to enjoy nature as they learn to work as a team, and the leaders are able to draw lessons from outdoor experiences. To meet the challenges of cross-country skiing in a snowstorm, he explained, you need a compass and a map. We draw the analogy that the Bible is a map for life. Larger Venturing groups enjoy winter camp at Aubrey Watzek Lodge, again combining outdoor fun with sharing the gospel and strengthening faith. We have an absolute blast, said Reverend Underwood. The youth ministry also uses the COPE ropes course with high school and junior high school teams and adult leaders. We re a team, he said of the adult leaders. The ropes course has helped us learn to work together in complicated situations. COPE, which stands for Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience, is the hallmark of the Venturing program for coed teens. COPE uses outdoor activities to illustrate seven areas of emphasis: leadership, self-esteem, decision-making, communication, trust, teamwork, and problem solving. V E N T U R I N G I S W O R K I N G

8 Thoughts from the chair By E.P. Gargiulo, NCCS Chair Parents have an awesome task to be the principal educators of their children. They are responsible for all of their children s primary needs and further a societal need to have them become productive citizens and the leaders of tomorrow. The growth process to achieve these things must teach the values of personal goal setting and achievement, a sense of belonging to society, and a bonding with the natural world around us. This growth experience is also expected to develop a person of character and self-discipline. It is the task of an entire community. Boy Scouting is valued in our society and will be supported by it because it delivers to these needs. Many of us are involved in Scouting today because we were formed in these things through a personal experience, or were drawn to the Scouting movement later as we sought these things for our children or even grandchildren. We have seen the civic and social responsibilities being met and chose to identify with the world movement of Scouting. We have seen Scouting work! Fewer of us have been drawn to Scouting through our faith journey. In Scouting we see the means to answer our call to holiness: to continue to form ourselves, to serve youth and to build the Catholic Christian community. Scouting methods succeed and are effective in meeting the mission of Catholic youth ministry. I realize that many who have read this far will think that old Ed has finally lost it. However, the NCCS is committed to the Catholic Scouting Membership Initiative. I would ask that you reflect on why this work is needed. We have a respectable number of units and youth chartered to Catholic institutions. However, our purpose is to use Scouting to develop the individual and further the mission of the Church. Too many of these units are Catholic in name and not fact. We really need to have these units renew their Duty to God and fulfill their role in the Church. This renewal is the primary goal of the Membership Initiative. Every diocesan Scout committee has been asked to set goals and make commitments for the Membership Initiative. The most important of these is to carry our message of Duty to God to the units we have chartered. How can you carry Christ s message to a unit today? Membership Initiative swings into high gear By John Ribar The Membership Initiative has started to move into high gear as we proceed into the new year. A host of our diocesan leaders participated on February 5 with the National Video Conference sponsored by the Boy Scouts of America. Attendance by Catholics swelled the numbers of Scout leaders working towards meeting goals set by the BSA for their 6 month project. In some Councils, most of the emphasis was placed on Church sponsorship of units to complete the family of Scouting -- packs, troops and crews. Special emphasis was placed to increase the addition of Venturing Crews by incorporating this Boy Scout program with youth ministry. The BSA's primary objective in this new unit organization campaign is to provide a nationwide emphasis on organizing new traditional units. The desired outcomes are: to have more traditional units on June 30, 2003 than they had on June 30, 2002; to increase the number of charter organizations that provide the full family of Scouting for youth; and ultimately to increase the number of young people in Scouting through the new units. This was a superb event for Catholic leaders to participate in. While the goals of the NCCS initiative include an increase in the number of youth, units and chartered partners, our two year plan is geared also to reaffirm Scouting as Catholic youth ministry and to help assist local diocesan committees to strengthen and support Catholic Scouting. These are the three areas we wish to emphasize. Besides the plethora of printed material we can use to support our efforts, we now have one of the finest tools created especially for the NCCS. It is the missing "puzzle piece" to our program. This is the new "Scouting as Youth Ministry" CD ROM which was sent to all diocesan chairs and chaplains, every Scout council and area, regional and national administrators. This outstanding tool is not only informative and educational but has countless pieces of printed literature available for instantaneous duplication. The Power Point presentation section is a comprehensive overview of our programs, what they do, how they do it and why. The discs may be duplicated locally by you for distribution to your entire committee or to whomever you wish to give one -- youth minister, pastor, parish council, school officers, unit leaders, etc. There is no limit to who we want to see our story. The video portions of these presentations are truly well done, especially the strong support for the program by Bob McCarty, National Director for the National Federation of Youth Ministers (NFCYM). Equally impressive were comments from Bishop Gettelfinger, our USCCB liaison, Monsignor Bob Guglielmone, Father Don Hummel and other clergy and lay persons. Our regional chairs and chaplains are all familiar with these materials and are willing and able to work with you. Please use them to strengthen and expand your committee in the months to follow. Your commitments toward (Continued on page 9)

9 (Continued from page 8) the success of our Initiative are needed. Without your participation, success is NOT possible. These tools and the promotional items we have will assure not only more Catholic youth and units in our program, but an expanded and strengthened group of adults which has been provided formation as Catholic youth leaders. Truly, then we can say that "Scouting as Youth Ministry" is more than just words. Duty to God is Promotion Patch Our new National Membership Initiative program with the theme "Scouting as Youth Ministry" is exciting and it is important that we continue to create even more excitement as this program develops and expands over the next two years. "Duty to God" is a phrase Scouting has strongly endorsed. These words reaffirm our commitment to the important precepts of Scouting the Scout Oath and Scout Law. The twelfth point of the Scout Law is, "A Scout is Reverent." In recent years, as the Catholic Church more fully developed its apostolate to youth, it became known as Youth Ministry. Scouting IS a significant part of this ministry. We are espousing the same values with Catholic Scouting as is done in families and the Catholic Church. As Scout leaders and church laypersons, it is our obligation to continue this growth, and expand our outreach to more sponsoring organizations and, eventually, more youth. The National Catholic Committee on Scouting has created a unique patch to commemorate the Catholic Membership Initiative. The patch is not only colorful, but also beautifully embroidered, showing symbols of our Catholic roots crosier, cross, shield, youth ministry commitment intertwined with the Boy Scout logo and the "Duty to God" pledge. This is something every youth member and Scouter would be proud to wear proclaiming their involvement with this program. It is a wonderful endorsement from our members and would certainly be admired by those not yet affiliated with our organization. There are countless ways to use this patch to promote "Scouting as Youth Ministry. Diocesan committees are not restricted by any national rules and may present them for any reasons. Many dioceses HAVE ALREADY ordered large quantities of these patches for presentations to each recipient of religious emblems, for each member of their committee, for their bishop and clergy in all Catholic sponsored units, to attendees at a retreat, to youth members, ministers and to members of units who were Gold Medallion Award recipients. The possibilities are endless. You are only limited by your own imagination on how to use this wonderful promotional item. For order blank and color picture of patch, refer to the NCCS website, Golden Bow Is Recognition One of the best ways to make volunteers feel good and probably ensure they will keep on working is to thank them and recognize them. How often have you heard it said that the best reward the Scouts have to keep volunteer leaders happy and to stay with the program is their recognition program. IT WORKS! The National Catholic Committee on Scouting has an exceptional program which is tied into the Membership Initiative. The Golden Bow Certificate and patch are tools which are not only beautiful and impressive but economically feasible as well. The patch is fully embroidered in multicolor and is an outstanding design. The certificate is printed on heavy stock suitable for framing and is also printed in multicolor. By logging on to the NCCS website at you can see the magnificent items in full color. There is an order blank which can be mailed to Barb Nestel at the NCCS office in Irving, Texas. This order sheet has a complete description of the items and suggestions on whom to give them to and how to use this program Frankly, this should be used for ANY person who has given service to your program. This is a superb tool to thank a pastor, principal, adult leader, parent, cafeteria worker, youth minister or anyone who has done a service for you and your unit. The flyer has a complete explanation on the significance of the "Golden Bow Award." Please note the special offer when you purchase a certificate/patch combination package. While the certificate is beautiful in itself, the addition of a patch creates an outstanding recognition and "thank you." If you purchase an inexpensive plastic frame at a local retailer the effect will multiply. For $4.00 or less you can create an item any recipient will appreciate Remember, the flip side of recognitions is a happy person who will help even more. Don't pass up a chance like this. The basic premise of Scouting for youth with special needs is that every Scout wants to participate fully and be respected like every other member of the troop. While there are, by necessity, troops exclusively composed of Scouts with disabilities, experience has shown that Scouting usually succeeds best when every boy is part of a patrol in a regular troop.

10 Heroes are among us By Bishop Paul S. Leverde Archdiocese of Baltimore Good people invariably attract us. We call them heroes or heroines ; role models is another name. However we describe them, these persons command our attention, touch our hearts and inspire us to be like them. As Scouts, our basic motto is to be prepared and to do good. This is essentially the message of Jesus Christ. In all the programs of Scouting, young men and women learn to serve God and country in very practical ways. American Scouting strives to form young men and women into young men and women of integrity. How similar this is to what our Catholic Faith calls us to. As Scouts, we learn to become good citizens of both our Church and our country. We were all terribly saddened by the tragic accident which caused the space shuttle Columbia to break apart on re-entering the Earth s atmosphere. Those seven brave men and women dedicated their lives to serving the human family by exploring space in an effort to understand more fully God s design for the universe and how this understanding can benefit the international community. The commander of the space shuttle Columbia, Astronaut Rick Husband, is, in my judgment, the kind of role model to which I referred above. What commanded my attention, touched my heart and inspired me was his deep practical faith in Jesus Christ. As Catholic Scouts rooted in our Catholic faith, we strive to live fully the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Astronaut Rick Husband clearly understood this. When he was four years old, Rick wanted to be an astronaut. He played with toy airplanes, looked through telescopes, watched airplanes fly over in the sky and pretended that he himself was flying an airplane. As he grew older, he focused his energies on obtaining this one goal. In high school he had to give a speech for one of his classes on what he wanted to be when he grew up, and his classmates laughed at him when he said he wanted to be an astronaut. But Rick Husband was committed to fulfilling his love of flying and his passion for being an astronaut. He had to apply to the space shuttle program four times, and his perseverance paid off when he was finally admitted to the program. Along the way, his faith in Jesus Christ deepened. As he studied the universe through his telescope, and then in school, he began to be convinced of God s existence. He once told his friends, There is no way that you can look at the stars, at the Earth, at the moon, and not realize that there is a God out there who has a plan and who laid out the universe. In fact, Rick came to the conclusion that something was even more important than being an astronaut. That something was a Someone. Commander Husband spoke to the members of his church in Amarillo, Texas, and told them that being an astronaut was not the absolute culmination of everything there is to life on earth. As exciting as a ride on the space shuttle may seem, I have to say that it s not as important as my relationship with Jesus. If it came to a point where I had to choose one or the other, I d give up the shuttle ride in a minute. He also put the same conviction this way in a message he Outdoor Code As an American, I will do my best to Be clean in my outdoor manners, Be careful with fire, Be considerate in the outdoors, and Be conservation-minded. Celebrate your Salvation! left for his pastor: tell them about Jesus. He means everything to me. Obviously, the best role model of all is Jesus Himself, who is our Way, our Truth and our Life. The people in Jesus time realized this. People wanted to get close to Him in order to hear Him preach and heal. Jesus responded to them. When Jesus disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. As Catholic Scouts, we strive to follow Jesus example. Moved by compassion for our brothers and sisters and our genuine desire to serve our country, we strive to always be prepared to lend a helping hand. We strive to become good citizens of both our Church and our country. As Catholic men and women, like Commander Rick Husband, you are preparing for your future and hopefully you will recognize that nothing is more central in your quest for happiness than an authentic relationship with Jesus Christ.

11 The Mysteries of Light: A Potential Religious Activity? By Edward P. Martin, Chair - NCCS Training Committee Are you looking for a topical theme for your next diocesan religious activity? If you ve been reading the Catholic press lately, you probably know that Pope John Paul II has proclaimed this the Year of the Rosary. At the same time, he is introducing five new mysteries, which he calls the mysteries of light. According to one of the articles from the Liguorian: The Pope hopes that these new mysteries will offer fresh life and enkindle renewed interest in the Rosary s place within Christian spirituality as a true doorway to the depths of the Heart of Christ, ocean of joy and of light, of suffering and of glory (RVM, 19). In fact, the aim of the entire apostolic letter seems to be to awaken among Catholics a deep appreciation for praying the rosary. The Pope lauds it as a prayer for peace, a prayer for families, a prayer for children, and a prayer for a new millennium. How more appropriate could this theme be? Years ago, when I was serving in the Diocese of Columbus (Ohio), we developed a several-hour religious activity for Cub Scouts based on the rosary. We shared a little about the history of the rosary, made a simple rosary, sang some songs to Mary, handed out information the boys could take home so families could pray the rosary together, and ended with Mass. Surely, other diocesan committees can do the same, and not just for Cubs, but Boy Scouts and Venturers, too. The months of May and October are set aside to honor Mary and the rosary and would be good times to schedule such an event. I m sure there must be others who have conducted similar events. Should anyone be interested in sharing their programs or ideas, please send them to me at martinedp@hotmail.com and I will see that they are made available. From left to right, Father Roger LaChance, Bishop Gerald Gettelfinger, Ed Gargiulo, Bray Barnes, Father Don Hummell and Father Dennis O Rourke in the presidential box at the J.F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts during the dinner event hosted by NCCS in recognition of the bishops and cardinals who have provided noteworthy support of Catholic Scouting. See article in The Bridge, December Region Five Chair Called to Active Duty The U.S. Army has recalled Lt. Col. John J. Halloran Jr., Chair of Region Five for the National Catholic Committee on Scouting, to active duty. Lt. Col. Halloran is the Deputy Commander of the Army s 366 th Finance Command. He and his entire unit have been deployed to Kuwait for service in that theater. John has been an active member of NCCS since He has served as a member of the archdiocesan committee of Baltimore and diocesan committees of Charleston and Nashville. He chaired the diocesan committees in Fairbanks (Alaska) and Lake Charles (La.). John became the Region Five Chair in January of John earned the Eagle rank in 1969 and is a member of the National Eagle Scout Association. He has been decorated with the Bronze Pelican, Bronze St. George, Whitney M. Young Service Award, William H. Spurgeon Award, Spes Mundi-O Connell Award, the District Award of merit and the Silver Beaver. John is a Vigil Memberof the Order of the Arrow and is a James E. West Fellow. We wish him well in his current assignment and look forward to his return. is published quarterly in March, June, September and December. Editor Chris Hoelle can be reached at cdhoelle@tampabay.rr.com

12 Calendar of upcoming events 2003 April 20 Easter April Memphis, Tenn Standing Committee and Board Meeting May Philadelphia BSA National Meeting July 6-12 Philmont, N.M. Scouting in the Catholic Church July 9-23 Philmont, N.M. Inter-Americas Trek October 14 Irving, Texas BSA Relationships Meeting October Baltimore Executive Committee Meeting November 10 Washington, D.C. Bishops Breakfast December Houston NCYC Youth NCCS Patch Available Don t miss your opportunity to include this new Jacket/Back Patch to your collection! Order Today! Fully embroidered 7-color patch. Patch Pricing: Print your name and address on a sheet of paper headed with NCCS patch order. 1 to 9 $7.50 each Mail order to: National Catholic Committee On Scouting 10 or $6.50 each Boy Scouts of America P.O. Box Irving, Texas Make checks payable to: National Catholic Committee on Scouting.