By Emily Booker
The Knoxville Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting celebrated its annual Mass and breakfast banquet May 22 at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Bishop Richard F. Stika celebrated the Mass.
“We gather together with the Scouts to celebrate their commitment to the Church and the country and to their own development,” Bishop Stika said to begin the Mass for Scouting.
In his homily, Bishop Stika said that Scouting offers young people the chance “to experience the world that’s around us, the beautiful world that is around us. And fishing and camping and horseback riding and building things, but also building a bond of relationships with peers and trusted adults. Self-discovery. Empowerment, as God works through them, as God works through all of us.
“As part of the Catholic Scouting program…we also have learning about our faith, learning about Jesus, learning about God, learning about the power, the empowerment, the gift of the Holy Spirit that should compel us to live ordinary lives in extraordinary ways.”
He also thanked the Scouts for their work as well as the parents, sponsors, and volunteers who help Scouts learn and develop.
At the end of Mass, Scouts who had participated in the religious-emblem program sponsored by the Knoxville Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting were recognized with a certificate.
Following Mass, Scouts and their families were invited to a breakfast in the cathedral hall.
The event was attended by Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, American Heritage Girls, and their families.
