 | | The St. Anthony Catholic Community welcomed a special visitor to the parish on Sunday, September 8. Bishop Gerald Gettelfinger, retired Bishop of Evansville, journeyed to St. Anthony for the formal dedication of the new St. Anthony Scout Lodge. The bishop, long-time episcopal liaison to the National Catholic Committee on Scouting, concelebrated Mass with Father Joe and then blessed and dedicated the Lodge to the youth ministry of Scouting at St. Anthony.
During his homily, Bishop Gettelfinger spoke of the many ways the Scouting program forms a key part of Catholic youth ministry and how it helps young people mature into responsible, well-rounded adults. He also shared stories of his own involvement in the program, especially his work coordinating (and participating in) the St. George Trek, which is The National Catholic Committee on Scouting’s high adventure Catholic leadership program, hike, and vocation retreat for older Catholic Boy Scouts and Venture Crew members at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. St. Anthony's Scout units--Cub Scout Pack 48, Boy Scout Troop 10, and Venture Crew 10--made a special donation to the St. George Trek program in honor of the bishop to thank him for his service to Scouting and in gratitude for his visit.
Special thanks got to Father Joe and the rest of the parish staff, including Youth Ministry Coordinator Stacy Gillenwater, for their support and patronage of Scouting in this parish. And much gratitude goes to all those who dedicated their time and talent to transform this building into a base of operations for our Scouting programs.
In Bishop Gettelfinger's words from the blessing, "Oh, Good Shepherd...abide in this sacred place dedicated for Boy Scouts as they pledge and strive to follow their Scout Oath and Law...May each Scout and adult know always that this Lodge is to be recognized as a place of Your Presence so as to remind them that a Scout is Reverent!" |