Every Sunday is a day of celebration, after all, that is why we gather for Mass each Sunday, to celebrate and give thanks to God for all the blessings He gives us everyday.  However, this Sunday we also celebrate something else -- and I am not talking about some sporting event that takes place later this evening.  No, I am talking about celebrating Scout Sunday.

    The Boy Scouts officially began on January 24, 1908, with the publication of Scouting for Boys by Robert Baden-Powell.  Baden-Powell was a well known national hero in Britain for his bravery and actions in the South African War.  In 1899 he wrote a military field manual for British soldiers, Aids to Scouting, which to his surprise became very popular with boys who loved the lessons on tracking and observation and organized elaborate games using the book.  This inspired Baden-Powell, after some trials, to write a nonmilitary field manual for adolescents that would also emphasize the importance of morality and good deeds.  The success of the program speaks for itself.

    The American version of the Boy Scouts has it origins in an event that occurred in London in 1909. Chicago publisher William Boyce was lost in the fog when a Boy Scout came to his aid. After guiding Boyce to his destination, the boy refused a tip, explaining that as a Boy Scout he would not accept payment for doing a good deed.  Boyce decided to bring the Boy Scouts to America, and on February 8, 1910 the Boy Scouts of America was incorporated.

    The Catholic Church in the United States saw the value of Boy Scouts, and in 1934 formed the National Catholic Committee on Scouting to ensure that Catholic-chartered Scout units and Catholic Scouts would have appropriate resources to integrate their faith experience with their Scouting experience.  While there have been some recent bumps in the relationship between BSA and the Catholic Church, the Church still values the Boy Scouts as a youth ministry.

    To be honest, I do not know when Boy Scout Troop 25 and Cub Scout Pack 25 were started here at Resurrection Parish -- certainly long before the merger -- but for many years the Scouts of our parish have provided service to our parish and the training of young boys so that they develop into good Christian men.  We honor them today, especially at the 10 AM Mass.

    I would also encourage all the boys in the parish to consider joining the Boy Scouts/Cub Scouts, and bring your fathers along because both the Troop and Pack could always use more leaders.  Also, we are going to explore something else -- for the girls in the parish.  BSA announced last year, that starting this year girls would be accepted into Cub Scouts.  They would form their own den within Pack 25.  This is not as radical as it might seem.  Girls have been involved in BSA programs for many years; programs like Venturing Scouts and Sea Scouts.  Girls will also be allowed to join the Boy Scouts, although some of the details on that are still being worked out, and will be able to earn the coveted Eagle Scout Award in the future.  So if any mothers would like with their daughters to form a den in Pack 25, please let me or Dennis Taylor know.