Commentary
How can we make this vision a reality in the Diocese of Wilmington? The good news is that we’ve already begun! Whether or not they call it youth ministry, adult Scout leaders have long been sharing their faith regularly and effectively with young people. Through the religious emblems programs, Scouts of all ages are exploring their faith and traditions. Dedicated leaders meet regularly to plan and lead retreats, design training programs and spiritual enrichment activities.
Through the witness of their words and actions, Catholic Scout leaders are making a difference in the lives of young people! Much is already in place, yet much still remains to be done. Here are some important next steps:
Get Busy Sharing the Vision
Share this vision with parish and Scout Leaders so as to build stronger bridges of cooperation. Copies of this vision should be provided to both parish and Scout leaders, along with other helpful resource materials. Scout leaders are encouraged to open up a dialogue with parish leaders on the topic of Scouting as a youth ministry.
Get Training
Scout leaders should receive youth ministry training in addition to that provided by Scouting. For the Sake of God’s Children mandates that all youth ministry volunteers complete the criminal background check and sign the volunteer covenant. This means Scouting volunteers too! Training offered by CYM covers a variety of topics that will assist adults in understanding their unique role as youth ministers, as well as practical ways to carry out that role.
Get Organized
On the parish and unit level, this means building strong Scouting Committees that share this vision. It means revitalizing the role of Chartered Organizational Representatives who understand them to be liaisons between the Scouting program and the parish. It means setting up patterns of regular communication and accountability with the pastor and/or his staff. On the diocesan level, getting organized means having a representative of Scouting on the CYM Advisory Board. In addition, CYM is in the process of establishing one single Catholic Committee for Scouting that will devote its time and energy to bringing this vision to life in our diocese.
Get to Work
There are two different ways for Scout leaders to put this vision into practice in their units: through (a) Infusion and (b) Special youth ministry programming. As they proceed, leaders are encouraged to be sensitive to Scouts of other faiths and religions while remaining true to our Catholic Christian identity. Following are a number of practical approaches:
Infusion of faith, prayer and spiritual themes into the regular Scouting program:
- Including opening and closing prayers in regular gatherings;
- Sharing one’s own story of faith with Scouts;
- Helping young people make connections between Scouting and faith themes (e.g. for boys, “A Scout is thrifty” can easily relate to care for the environment and reverence for all God’s creation; also connecting leadership development to Christian leadership development);
- Using service experiences as opportunities to educate young people about Christian service;
Special Youth Ministry Programming of an explicitly religious or spiritual nature within the Scouting program:
- Exploring the Scout Oath and Law from a uniquely Christian perspective and calling young people to live up to these values and principles;
- Service projects of an explicitly Christian nature (e.g., constructing an outdoor prayer space, assisting in leadership of parish prayer services or service projects);
It is timely for all of us who work with young people to become better partners on their behalf. Now is our chance to be counter cultural as we transmit faith and values to our Young Church. In today’s world, families are often fragmented and youth are left to work out their beliefs on the streets, or in front of the TV. Worthy adult role models are few and far between; even rarer are those whom young people admire as truly holy people.
St. Theresa of Avila often prayed: “Christ has no body now but yours, no hands, no feet, on earth but yours.”
For Scout Leaders, this prayer is a reminder of the great opportunity they possess to be a holy presence in the lives young people. What an incredible gift, what an awesome challenge!