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Scouting as Catholic Youth Ministry
Scouting is youth ministry! The Department of Youth & Young Adult Ministry is happy to support and work with the Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting to encourage and foster Catholic scouting in our diocese.
Scouts who work on these religious emblem programs learn more about themselves, our church and their faith. They explore themes such as the sacraments, Mary as a model of discipleship, the Holy Spirit's role in their lives and their vocation as disciples who give witness to their faith. These programs are excellent examples of comprehensive youth ministry.
Truly, Scouting - especially through the religious emblems programs - is youth ministry! We celebrate and give thanks for all that Catholic Scouting brings to our diocese and for all the young lives touched by scouting.
All church leaders - especially youth ministry leaders - are strongly encouraged to become familiar with and support the Scouting religious emblems programs. Pastors have an excellent opportunity to encourage young parishioners involved with scouting to pursue the religious emblems. Youth ministers can strengthen the comprehensive ministry they coordinate in their parish by connecting with scout troops and leaders. If the scouting troops at your church don't currently engage in the religious emblem programs, youth ministers can become religious emblem counselors and work with the scouts on these programs. If your parish doesn't sponsor scout troops, a parish youth minister (or other adult volunteer) can still reach out to area troops to offer the opportunity for the Catholic scouts in those troops (your parishioners!) to work on the religious emblems for their faith tradition.
At the very least, youth ministry leaders and catechetical leaders should avail themselves of the resources and activity ideas in the religious emblem program leaders guides. These are inexpensive resources that contain great, practical ideas that can be incorporated into parish religious education classes, youth nights, or retreats.
To further discuss how Catholic scouting can be integrated with your parish youth ministry program, please contact:
Kathy Goller
716-847-8789
795 Main Street
Buffalo, NY 14203-1250