More Than 100 Participate In Scout/Venturing Retreat

The annual Boy Scout/Venturing Retreat was held March 3-5 at the Catholic Center in Evansville. This is the fourth consecutive year that the Catholic Center hosted the retreat.  The 102 attendees included scouts, venturers (including two females) and adult leaders from 12 troops or venture crews sponsored by parishes within the diocese, plus troops sponsored by the Bluegrass Methodist Church in Evansville and the First Presbyterian Church in Olney, Ill.  The theme was the Marian theme of World Youth Day “The mighty one has done great things for me, and holy is his name” (Luke 1:49).  

Diocese of Evansville Seminarians Eric Gehlhausen, Garrett Braun and Luke Hassler gave talks on the retreat theme. Talks were followed by age-related discussion groups led by members of the Order of St. Dominic Savio – older scouts who were working on or who have already been awarded emblems for further study and service in the faith, especially about vocations. Father Tyler Tenbarge, Associate Pastor of St. John the Baptist Church in Newburgh, celebrated Mass Saturday morning and added a significant teaching element to the Eucharist.  Father Tenbarge explained each part of the Mass as he went along, giving meaning and history. Other liturgical activities led by St. Dominic Savio members included Liturgy of the Hours, the Angelus and religious hymns under the direction of Ben Dahlquist.  

Saturday evening included a candlelight procession of the Blessed Sacrament, which began outside and proceeded to the gym where there was Exposition and Adoration.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation was available at that time thanks to priests of the Diocese of Evansville, including Father Sudhakar Bhastati; Father Anthony Govind; Father Jason Gries; and Father Pascal Nduka. Adoration concluded with Benediction led by Deacon Charlie Koressel, Diocesan Chaplain for Scouting.

Bishop Charles C. Thompson celebrated Mass on Sunday morning, and the retreat concluded with an awards ceremony following Mass. New members of the Order of St. Dominic Savio received sashes, including Michael Goedde of St. Wendel Parish in St. Wendel; Jarett Herr and Ben Janney of St. John the Baptist Parish in Newburgh; Chandler Schell of St. Joseph Parish in Vanderburgh County; and Daniel Vollmer of Annunciation Parish in Evansville.

Several adults received the Bronze Pelican emblem for promoting Scouting as Youth Ministry, including Kenneth Egler of St. Mary Parish in Ireland; Bryan Grant of Holy Rosary Parish in Evansville; Joseph Paul Keith of Resurrection Parish in Evansville; and James Weyer of Christ the King Parish in Ferdinand.

Chad Lueken of St. Joseph Parish in Jasper received the St. George Emblem for sustained support of Catholic Scouting.