Catholic Youth Apostolate

"Outstanding, Awesome, and Fantastic!" were a few of the adjectives scouts used to describe their experience at Catholic Adventure Week, held last month at S Bar F Scouting Ranch, Swift Base.  Catholic Adventure Week, sponsored by the Office of Catholic Scouting, the Catholic Committe on Scouting-BSA, and the Greater St. Louis Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America, is held every July.  This year's theme was "Come Experience the Sword and the Keys." 

Ann Lederman, Director of the OCS, says the goal in providing this week for Catholic Scouts is to give them an experience of living their faith, growing in their faith, and loving their faith within the scouting movement and especially out in the wonders of God's creation.  Intertwined with the outstanding High Adventure program offered by Swift staff, there are opportunities for prayer, religious instruction, and reflection.  Some of the Catholic programs included in the week are Liturgy of the Hours, Angelus before lunch, Eucharistic Adoration, Reconciliation, Mass celebrated with Archbishop Carlson, talks with the seminarians, and a daily five mile spiritual and prayerful St. George Hike.  Scouts also enjoy movie nights, a water carnival, high adventure activities, campfire reflections, time for fun and time for rest and relaxing.

Participants this year included 113 Boy Scouts from grades 6th through 12th, 38 Leaders, and 34 Staff.