By Joe Dickinson, DCCS Secretary, Special to The Message
The Catholic Center was again the venue of the Scout/Venturer Retreat the weekend of March 6-8. The Retreat has been put on annually for decades by the Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting (DCCS) under the direction of the Diocesan Scout Chaplain, currently Deacon Tony Schapker.
The theme of the Retreat was the current World Youth Day theme, “Take Courage, I have conquered the world” (John 16:33). Talks and activities were related to the theme. Scouts and leaders who attended were from four troops from the following parishes: Holy Family (Jasper), Christ the King (Ferdinand), St. Benedict Cathedral (Evansville), and scouts from St. Isidore (Celestine) who belong to a troop sponsored by St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church (Dubois Junction). Scouts from other parishes are members of these troops.
Talks related to the theme were given by seminarians Chase Rieker and Nick Freyberger, followed by discussion groups. Saturday morning Mass was celebrated by Bishop Joseph M. Siegel, and Sunday morning Mass by Father Jim Koressel. Throughout the weekend, prayers included the Angelus, the Liturgy of the Hours and a theme song all led by the scouts. Saturday evening there was a candlelight procession with the Monstrance, leading to Adoration followed by Benediction with Deacon Tony. During Adoration, Reconciliation was available with confessors, Father Jason Gries and Father Ambrose Wanyonyi.
Other activities for the youth included the making of a Decade Rosary and a talk by Deacon Tony on Spiritual Life in Colonial America to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States. There was a training program for leaders on Saturday to promote the leader’s role as Youth Minister in the Catholic Church.
After the Mass by Bishop Siegel, there was an awards ceremony. The following adults were recognized with the Bronze Pelican for promoting Christian development in the scouts: Mary Lou Bradley (Good Shepard), Lois Schenk (Good Shepherd) and John Harding (St. John the Baptist). The St. George award for continuing to promote Catholic Scouting was presented to Matthew Kremer and Bishop Siegel. John Harding, Scout Executive of the Buffalo Trace Council, also recognized Bishop Siegel with the national Duty to God Award from Scouting America in supporting and promoting the spiritual foundation of Scouting to prepare youth for life by perpetuating a Scout’s duty to their Creator. Two youth, Ada and Maximillian Mundy, both of St. Pius X (Troy), were awarded the sash of the Order of St. Dominic Savio by the Bishop for their study of vocations and working on the Retreat.
After the closing Mass, those adults who had completed the training in Youth Ministry were recognized. They were Dee Jay Ballard (Precious Blood), Jason Betz (St. Isidore), Isaac Gatwood (St. Ferdinand) and Ryan Rasche (Christ the King in Ferdinand).