Bishop Beckman presides at Mass, ceremony to recognize adult and young leaders
By Bill Brewer
Scouts from around the Diocese of Knoxville were recognized on Feb. 21 during the annual Scouting Mass celebrated by Bishop Mark Beckman at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Concelebrating the Mass was Father Dustin Collins, pastor of St. Mary Parish in Johnson City, who also serves as chaplain of the Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting.
Boys and girls from East Tennessee parishes who are active in the Scouts as well as adult Scout leaders were saluted by Bishop Beckman for their good works and the way the Scouting activities they take part in complement their Catholic faith.
At the end of Mass, Chris Manning, chair of the Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting, introduced the presentation of certificates to Boy and Girl Scouts in the diocese who have earned a religious emblem in the past year.
Bishop Beckman presents certificates to Scouts who have earned a religious emblem in the last year. (Photo Bill Brewer)
The young Scouts were presented their certificates by Bishop Beckman.
“One of the things that is so important is that our young people have good experiences of community that build solid character. There is no better organization for that than Scouting. I think Scouting helps our young people in a community kind of way, growing character. So, patriotism, support for living a virtuous Christian life, all those excellent qualities,” Bishop Beckman said.
The bishop underscored that Scouting and the Catholic faith are in sync in so many ways.
“They are very complementary. You know the qualities of a good Scout—trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent—are great Christian qualities. And Jesus emulates those qualities,” he said, quickly reeling off the qualities and revealing that he was a Scout in a troop at Sacred Heart Parish in Lawrenceburg, Tenn., when he was young.
“I was a Scout. I was a Cub Scout, a Webelo, and a Boy Scout. I enjoyed many of the elements of Scouting,” the bishop shared.
It was the second Scouting Mass in which Bishop Beckman has presided. He also led the Bishop’s Breakfast for Scouting, a ceremony to present adult-recognition awards held in the Cathedral Hall following the Mass and was assisted by Father Collins.
Eight adult volunteers, including Father Doug Owens, pastor of All Saints Parish in Knoxville, received awards for their work with the Scouts. Father Owens was presented his award during Mass at All Saints Church on Feb. 22.
Receiving the Bronze Pelican Award were Drew Antunes and Sean McDermott.
Mr. Manning explained that the Bronze Pelican Award recognizes people who have made a significant contribution to Scouting in the field of Catholic relationships. It is given to Catholic laymen and laywomen, priests, and religious.
Receiving the St. George Medal were Father Owens, Dennis LaPointe of the cathedral parish, Karin Turnmire, an All Saints parishioner, Dr. Joe Browder II of the Cathedral parish, and Stacy Langlois of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Lenoir City.
Dr. Browder has spent many years volunteering with the Scouts and has served as an international representative for Scouting as well as a member of the local council executive board.
Mrs. Langlois is Cubmaster for Pack 770 at St. Thomas the Apostle. She also serves as the registrar for the Great Smoky Mountain Council of Scouting America.
St. George is the patron saint of Scouting.
Bishop Beckman and Father Collins present Scouting volunteer Cheri Van Bynen with the St. Anne Medal. (Photo Bill Brewer)
The St. Anne Medal was awarded to Cheri Van Bynen of Immaculate Conception Parish in Knoxville. Ms. Van Bynen has been a volunteer with the Girl Scouts for more than 30 years and has been instrumental in an increase in Girl Scouts earning their religious emblems.
The St. Anne Medal is the highest award a volunteer can receive locally in Girl Scouts.
St. Anne was the mother of the Virgin Mary, and the award in her name is presented to those who have given selflessly to Catholic young women in Girl Scouts and the Campfire Association and is comparable to the St. George emblem.
Bishop Beckman expressed his gratitude to the award recipients for their volunteer work with Catholic youth in Scouting.
“I’m so grateful for your presence in Scouting. I want to express my appreciation for all of our adults who help support Scouting. You are a true gift to the program. One of my most enjoyable experiences last year was the opportunity to be a part of ScoutFest,” he said.
ScoutFest 2025 was a three-day event held in October in Madisonville and included troops from East Tennessee for activities, games, competitions, and adventures.
Like Bishop Beckman, Father Collins was in comfortable company at the Mass and ceremony. He also was in the Boy Scouts and attained the rank of Eagle Scout in 2000 as a member of Troop 103 in Jonesborough. Eagle is the most advanced rank in Scouting.
“Scouting is important because it instills values in our children and is an important outreach to various faiths, including the Catholic faith. There are the religious emblems, which I think are very important in the life of our young children to stir up the flame of faith within their life. Scouting and faith are complementary in those values that are instilled,” Father Collins said at the ceremony. “One thing we say is that a Scout is reverent. Beyond reverence, there are other values we see that are played out, especially in Boy Scouting.”
Bishop Mark Beckman and Father Dustin Collins are shown with members of the Knoxville Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting, including from left, Chris Manning, Kimberly Turnmire, Jeffry Turnmire, Stacy Langlois, Ken Hood, Martin Vargas, Marie Flannery, and Cheri Van Bynen. Bishop Beckman was in the Scouts as a youth and Father Collins was an Eagle Scout. (Photo Bill Brewer)
Father Collins noted that Scouting also encourages accomplishment, an effort to be the best Scout you can be, which is akin to being the best Catholic you can be.
Ken Hood, Region V chair for the National Catholic Committee of Scouting, which covers Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana, was part of the ceremony.
Mr. Hood estimated there are about 10,000 Catholic Scouts in Region V.
“Scouting itself is a faith-based organization. Scout law has 12 points. The 12th point is a Scout is reverent. That is not because it is the least important. It’s because the founders intended that it would be the rock that Scouting’s tenets would be based on,” he said.
“Whether they’re Catholic, Protestant, or Jewish, the faith in Scouting is one of the most important things,” he added. “Scouting’s principles are to help build better citizens, make people better members of their community, better family members. Faith ties into that a great deal.”
Mr. Hood is encouraged that Scouting continues to be an important activity for Catholic youth.
“Without a doubt. We’ve seen such an uptick in religious awards being earned by Scouts. The National Catholic Committee has a huge scholarship program, where the vast majority of that money has been given out in the Southern states, believe it or not. Most people think those scholarships would be given out in traditionally very Catholic states like Massachusetts. Our region has been well represented in that,” he said.
Mr. Manning said the Scouting Mass and Breakfast with the Bishop are a highlight for Catholic Scouts in the diocese.
“It is a wonderful opportunity for Bishop Beckman to celebrate the Mass for our Scouting community. Recognition of the youth in Mass is wonderful. The breakfast and program is a great event where, once a year, we as a diocese say thank you to these dedicated leaders. The various adult religious emblems are a source of pride for the recipients,” he said.
Mr. Manning pointed out that Scouting is an integral part of diocesan ministry.
“Scouting is youth ministry. The 12 points of the Scout Law and the virtues contained in the Scout Oath are as relevant to being a good Catholic now, as they were 116 years ago. Scouting America is all about including every youth as we are all made in the image and likeness of Jesus Christ,” he said.
Bishop Mark Beckman stands with volunteer Scouting leaders in the Diocese of Knoxville, including from left, Dennis LaPointe (St. George emblem), Sean McDermott (Bronze Pelican award), Drew Antunes (Bronze Pelican award), Karin Turnmire (St. George emblem), Stacy Langlois (St. George emblem), and Dr. Joe Browder II (St. George emblem). (Photo Bill Brewer)
He pointed out that there are several hundred Scouts throughout the diocese. There are three Scouting America councils within the boundaries of the diocese and several Girl Scouts USA units. The Scouting America Councils are the Great Smoky Mountain Council (21 counties surrounding Knoxville), the Cherokee Council (Chattanooga and northern Georgia), and the Sequoyah Council (Johnson City and east into Virginia).
Mr. Manning believes Scouting is effective and necessary beyond the Diocese of Knoxville because it has a profound impact on the broader community.
“The Scouting program is focused on developing the future leaders in all aspects of our society. Character development is at the forefront of this effort. Teaching our children to be fair, ethical, and moral in their decision-making is critical to this end,” Mr. Manning said.
“The incremental exposure to leadership opportunities gives our youth the necessary opportunity to experience decision-making with adult guidance. The circumstances of both success and failure as an outcome are anticipated. It is only through these various experiences that they will develop into our leaders. No other program offers that. The committed volunteers make this happen for our youth,” he concluded.