November 7, 2017

Annual Catholic Scouting Mass held at St. Michael’s Cathedral

REGIONAL
Story and photos by Andre Kopacki

SPRINGFIELD – “Everyone thinks that Girl Scouts is just cookies, but it’s not, we do a lot and we help people,” said local Girl Scout Heather O’Connor at the Annual Scouting Mass at St. Michael’s Cathedral on Nov. 5.

More than 50 people attended the 2 p.m. Mass.  

Springfield Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski presided over the Mass. He explained in the homily how Scouting brings about great responsibility.

“You may not think that even when you are out of uniform people may recognize you as a Boy Scout or Girl Scout, but yet people know, they know you represent Scouting, and they know you represent our faith,” said Bishop Rozanski.

The bishop also pointed out how Scouting can help in learning to walk in the footsteps of Christ.

“All of the ideals that you learn in Scouting, you learn so that your lives can be better and that others’ lives will be better because of you. Jesus calls each one of us to use our gifts and talents in a way that is not used merely for self, but rather that can be used for the betterment of others,” said Bishop Rozanski.

Father Eugene J. Plasse, Scouting chaplain for the Springfield Diocese, has been involved with Scouting since 1974. He said that Scouting makes it easier for kids to understand their relationship with God.

“With Catholic Scouting, we bring (the Scouts) into the church and help them see the things that they should be working on in their lives, so connecting their personal life with Scouting, it develops their ability to relate to God better,” said Father Plasse.

“I feel like (faith and Scouting) are basically the same thing: having God guide you through things,” said local Boy Scout Bevan Carpenter.

A video version of this story will be featured on an upcoming edition of the Springfield Diocese’s newsmagazine program, “Real to Reel,” which airs Saturday evenings at 7 on WWLP-22NEWS.