Centenary Mass

SCOUTS CELEBRATE THE CENTENARY OF SCOUTING

February saw the beginning of Scouting Centenary Celebrations with the 13th Medway St Michaels, Scout Group hosting a special Mass at St Michael’s church in Chatham on behalf of the National Catholic Scout Fellowship. The Mass was celebrated by the National Catholic Scout Chaplain, Father John Seddon, who is also the Religious Advisor for Scouting Headquarters.

All the known Catholic Groups in Kent had been invited. The event was well attended with representatives from groups in Dover, Tunbridge Wells, Dartford, Erith, Sittingbourne, and Bromley as well as two Groups from Chatham - the 13th St Michaels and the 14th St Simon Stock. There were also representatives from the County Scout Team and the Medway District Scout Team lead by Graham Hancock the District Commissioner. The total number of Beavers, Cubs and Scouts, including leaders, was in excess of 100.

The young people from various parts of the county paraded their flags at the beginning of the service and took a prominent part in the service by reading the lessons and also reading the prayers, relating to scouting, that they had composed within their groups.

Fr John Seddon spoke of the importance of the scout promise when he invested a young Cub Scout from the 13th Medway and he then invited everyone present, who was involved in Scouting, to renew their Scout Promise.

The evening concluded with everyone getting together for refreshments in the Scout Hall, which was an opportunity for members of the scout movement from various parts of the County to exchange ideas and make new friendships.