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Letter from the ChairmanDear Friends, Let me start by saying how much I appreciate the confidence the committee has expressed by nominating me for a 2-year term as chairman. I have truly enjoyed learning all about the role of the Catholic Committee on Scouting and look forward to building even more good things for the young people of our diocese through the work of this committee. Bishop Paprocki has approved the appointment and an official decree is in the mail to the National Catholic Committee on Scouting. This appointment expires on December 31, 2012. The last committee meeting has other highlights that I want to pass on to everyone. First, there is ongoing work to develop a Girl Scout version of the National Catholic Quality Unit Award. We will name this new award the St. Maria Goretti Award. Look for more information about this award in the months to come. Training for Counselors is coming up quickly on Saturday, September 11 in Springfield. If you cannot come to Springfield you can still participate via webinar. Please email me so I can send you information on how to join in the webinar. Work continues on plans for our next Scout Retreat. However, two big questions need to be answered for these scheduled events to continue. First, I am looking for hosts on October 30 and on November 13 for 9:00 AM - noon sessions. Based on the Council calendar for the Abraham Lincoln Council (Springfield area), they are hosting their Fall Day Camp on October 30th. So it would not be a good idea to have the Scout retreat in the Springfield area on October 30th. The second question is who's available to staff either of these dates? Since we are planning to have four different groups of Scouts, I need four or more people who can lead sessions for each or both dates. Lesson plans are being developed, but I know to Cub Scout programs will need leaders. The Scout Mass and Awards Ceremony is tentatively scheduled for Sunday, May 15 at 2:00 PM at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield. The church is available, I just need to confirm with Bishop Paprocki. This is a change from our usual schedule of the first Sunday of May for three reasons. One, the Lincoln Pilgrimage is still in progress on May 1. Two, the Cathedral is not available on May 1 because there is another Mass already scheduled for 2:00 PM on that Sunday (Divine Mercy Sunday, always the Sunday after Easter). Third, our bishop was not available on May 1 and the committee was clear that his involvement in this Mass is very important for all. Finally, check out the University of Scouting coming up November 6 for the Abraham Lincoln Council! I have offered to lead a session on the religious emblems programs and I hope to see you there! Kyle Holtgrave Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting (DCCS) Meeting Schedule Meetings are open to all. There are openings for any of the sub-committees. Please share your gifts and talents! Updates from the National Catholic Committee on Scouting 2011 Saint George Trek AnnouncedThe National Catholic Committee on Scouting® has announced its high adventure leadership program for older Catholic Boy Scouts and Venture Crew members at Philmont Scout Ranch. Designed to develop organizational and relational skills for leadership as well as nourishing the scout's spirituality, the Saint George Trek will bring Catholic high school youth from around the country together with selected priests, religious and seminarians for eleven days of backpacking on the trail including three days of intensive leadership training at a back country base camp. The 2011 Saint George Trek begins on Thursday, July 7, 2011 in Albuquerque, New Mexico and then on to Philmont Scout Ranch where participants will hike the Sangre de Cristo Range of the Rocky Mountains. While hiking, they will experience a program that is designed to encourage the integration of morality, values, spirituality, faith and scripture in their lives as Christian leaders. Before returning home on July 22, 2011, they will be asked to commit themselves to bring what they have experienced home to their respective dioceses where they can become effective peer leaders and role models for their fellow scouts. We are allowed to send two Scouts or Venturers from the diocese and all space for the trip will be filled on a "first come, first served" basis. Candidates should be emotionally mature adolescents who will be fifteen years of age on or before July 7, 2011, in High School in the fall of 2011 and committed to assist their Catholic Committee when they return home. Cost is $800.00 plus transportation to Albuquerque New Mexico and any incidental/personal expenses. The diocesan application for the St. George Trek is posted on the Scout website. Please have your application in by December 15, 2010. Annual Board and Standing Committee Meeting, April 26 - 29, 2011, in Scottsdale, AZThe NCCS Annual Board and Standing Committee Meeting will be held April 26 - 29, 2011, at the Radisson Fort McDowell Resort in Scottsdale, AZ. The meeting with be hosted in collaboration with the Diocese of Phoenix Catholic Committee on Scouting. More information coming this fall. Training Committee (Scouter Development)Scouting in the Catholic ChurchEach year, the National Catholic Committee on Scouting® (NCCS) conducts the "Scouting in the Catholic Church" training conference at Philmont Training Center in Cimarron, NM as part of BSA Relationships Week. The conference brings together religious and lay participants with varying experience in Scouting and the Catholic faith. The goal of the conference is to help the participants understand how Scouting is a Youth Ministry and how to use the information in their dioceses when talking with Scouters, priests, and youth ministers. The next Scouting in the Catholic Church conference is July 10 - 16, 2011 at Philmont Training Center. Counselor TrainingFor adults who need to be certified / recertified as counselors, facilitators, or mentors for Ad Altare Dei, Pope Pius XII, Mary the First Disciple, or the Spirit Alive programs, the next training will be 2 - 5 PM on Saturday, September 11, 2010, Catholic Pastoral Center in Springfield and via webinar. Please email Kyle Holtgrave at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to get the login information for the webinar. Certification is valid for three years. Membership CommitteeNational Catholic Quality Unit Award - Pope Paul VIIt is not too early to start planning your BSA unit's goal of earning the National Catholic Quality Unit Award for 2010! The National Catholic Quality Unit Award program exists to promote Catholic membership and to: Emblems and Recognitions CommitteeScouts can start working on any of the religious emblems or recognitions at any time. Workbooks for BSA emblems can be obtained from your local Council office or from Scoutstuff.org. Girl Scouts can purchase workbooks for religious recognitions from the on-line store of the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry at nfcym.org. The order form to purchase medals is on the committee's website at http://scouts.dio.org. Religious Activities CommitteeScout RetreatThere will be two Fall Retreats for Scouts to work on Light of Christ, Parvuli Dei, Family of God or the I Live My Faith religious programs. The first will be Saturday, October 30, 2010 and the second on Saturday, November 13, 2010. Host sites are needed!!! Day of RecollectionWe are planning a Day of Recollection on Sunday, March 20, 2011 for those working on Ad Altare Dei, Pope Pius XII, Mary the First Disciple and the Spirit Alive programs. Details to come in future newsletters Communications and Publicity CommitteePlease send me your stories and pictures of Scouts fulfilling the "Duty to God" tenant of the Scout Law! I would love to have a few short stories to include with this newsletter to showcase ways Scouts are active in their faith. Vocations CommitteeChaplain & Chaplain Aide TrainingOne of the goals of the Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting is to inaugurate training programs for clergy and for youth. Follow the link on Chaplain for more information about this role. A Chaplain Aide is an approved youth leadership position for Boy Scouts. The responsibilities are to encourage spiritual awareness and growth in the lives of troop members and to assist the chaplain. CalendarSeptember 11 Counselor Training, 2 - 5 PM, Catholic Pastoral Center and via webinar Who we serve
The Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting serves the 28 counties in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. This area covers all or portions of 5 Boy Scout Councils and 2 Girl Scout Councils including: |
| Last Updated on Monday, 30 August 2010 12:59 |