Catholic Center Hosts
The annual Boy Scout/Venturing Retreat was held March 6-8 at the Catholic Center in Evansville with 138 in attendance – 95 youth (90 boys, 5 girls) and 53 adults – representing 14 troops and crews, including two troops not sponsored by a Catholic parish.
The retreat’s theme was that for World Youth Day for 2015: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” (Matt 5:8).
The Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting Retreat sponsors the retreat every year at this time, and this is the second consecutive year that it has been held at the Catholic Center. For many years it was held at St. Meinrad Archabbey; and, more recently, for several years at Rivet High School in Vincennes.
The majority of them “camped” on the Catholic Center gym floor, while some adults and the females slept at the Sarto Retreat House. Adults from Troop 393 at St. Wendel Parish prepared plentiful meals and snacks over the weekend, and the Catholic Center staff worked closely with the DCCS to help make the weekend run smoothly.
Participants enjoyed a variety of talks, discussions, activities, games, and liturgies related to the theme. Presenters included Jeremy Goebel, director of campus ministry for Mater Dei and Reitz Memorial high schools; Father Christopher Droste, associate pastor of Evansville’s Annunciation of the Lord Parish; Benedictine Sister Teresa Gunter of Monastery Immaculate Conception in Ferdinand, Ind.; and DCCS Chairman Bill Noll.
After each talk the participants were dispersed into groups by age to answer questions and discuss the talks, then report back to the larger group. Groups were led by older scouts who are members of the Order of St. Dominic.
Other activities included a video and discussion with Father Claude “Dusty” Burns, pastor of St. Philip Parish in Posey County, on vocations; a presentation on worshiping with music with Mark Schmitz, worship director at Evansville’s Good Shepherd Parish; and games related to aspects of the theme of being pure in heart, which included spreading the Kingdom of God.
Diocese of Evansville seminarians Kevin Effron, Luke Hassler and Andrew Thomas helped out in various activities and talked informally with the scouts and venturers. Illness forced seminarian Tyler Tenbarge to miss the retreat this year.
A spiritual-formation workshop for adult leaders was held to help them understand their role in carrying out the church’s use of scouting as a youth ministry.
The retreat also included the Angelus, Liturgy of the Hours, daily Mass, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Benediction, and Reconciliation. Members of the Order of St. Dominic led the Angelus, Liturgy of the Hours, and meal prayers, and they were also involved in the music ministry.
In the absence of Diocesan Scout Chaplain Deacon Charles Koressel, who was ill, Holy Rosary Parish Pastor Father Bernie Etienne led Adoration and Benediction. He also gave a talk on Reconciliation. Four other priests offered the sacrament to retreat participants. They included Father Zach Etienne, pastor of Evansville’s Good Shepherd Parish, and Good Shepherd Associate Pastor Father Benny Alikandayil; Father Brian Emmick, associate pastor of St. Philip Parish; and Father Jason Gries, pastor of St. John Parish – Daylight.
Father Droste celebrated Mass Saturday morning, assisted by Deacon Tony Schapker. Bishop-Emeritus Gerald A. Gettelfinger celebrated Sunday’s closing Mass. Bishop Gettelfinger has been a longtime and enthusiastic supporter of scouting in the diocese, and told those at the retreat that, health permitting, he planned to spend time again this tear at the Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. He has made many trips to Philmont in the past.
DCCS Chariman Noll led an awards ceremony following Sunday Mass. Kurt Hedinger of St. Joseph Parish in Jasper received the Bronze Pelican, an adult emblem for service to scouting and the parish. Noll also recognized three new members of the Order of St. Dominic Savio – Noah Theiring of St. John the Baptist Parish in Newburgh, Lydia Schneiders of St. Ferdinand Parish in Ferdinand and Bryce Seigel of Precious Blood Parish in Jasper.
The Message thanks Joseph Dickinson for providing this information and the accompanying photos.
