UNION—Scouts BSA Troops from across Fairfield County, Conn. gathered at Connecticut Yankee Council’s Camp Pomperaug in Union, Conn. May 17-19 at the annual Spring Camporee.
The twelfth point of the Scout law, a Scout is reverent, was beautifully demonstrated on Saturday, May 18 when Father Martin Noe, of Saint John and Saint Mark in Old Saybrook, Conn. celebrated Mass with more than 30 Scouts and Scouters. Father Noe is the Catholic Scout chaplain for the Diocese of Norwich.
In an effort to help reintroduce Catholic Mass at Scouting Events, Mr. Benjamin Strong, Troop 68 committee member and member of Saint Catherine of Siena Parish in Trumbull, Conn. reached out to the Diocese of Norwich to see if a priest would be willing to celebrate Mass with the Scouts. “I was so thankful when Father Noe said he would be willing to come and celebrate with us,” said Strong. “The chapel at Camp Pomperaug is a beautiful and rustic outdoor chapel. There is nothing better than celebrating Mass in the outdoors.”
Father Noe reminded the Scouts of Jesus’s new commandant, “To love one another as I have loved you,” and reminded the Scouts they live this commandment as they practice the tenants of the Scout Law.
Kelsey Welch of Scouts BSA Troop 20, Stratford, Conn., Abby Gombos of Scouts BSA Troop 168, Trumbull, Conn., and Emmett Ransden of Troop 88 in Fairfield, Conn. were readers while Kevin Murphy of Troop 68 in Trumbull, Conn. was an altar server.
Father Noe concluded Mass with God Bless America as the recessional. A fitting song that ties a Scout’s Duty to God and Country.
If you are interested in joining Scouts please visit www.beascout.scouting.org. For Scouts in Connecticut Yankee Council who want to learn more about Catholic Scouting, please visit www.bridgeportdiocese.org/scouting/catholic-scouting-information and Scouts in the Norwich area who desire to learn more about Catholic Scouting please visit www.norwichdiocese.org/Find/Full-Group-Directory/ID/302/Catholic-Scouting.
Photo by: Kate Gombos
