Catholic Scout Groups

 

Catholic Scout Groups

NSW Catholic Scouting started in 1925. Fr D Hogan discussed Scouting with Archbishop Kelly in September 1925, and the first group 2nd Kensington started in December 1925.

In records at St Vincent de Paul archives is a letter from Father D Hogan to the Boy Scout Association dated 15/12/1925 saying “I have the honor to inform you that His Grace Archbishop Kelly has requested me to promote the Catholic Boy Scout Movement and to act for him with the General Association with which we desire affiliation in accordance with your letter of Nov 11 last.” Father Hogan was organiser till he went to Thursday Island as a missionary in January 1928, Mr. Bradley ASM Waverley took over for 3 months then Mr. Gattenhoff took over till his work transferred him to Scone in 1930 (letters at St V De Paul archives).

Catholic Weekly 12/8/1976 quoted Father Daniel Hogan: “It was September 1925 that Archbishop Kelly and I met by chance in a train at Wyong and it was while we were speeding along that the Boy Scout movement came up incidentally as a topic of conversation” “His Grace and I discovered we had a mutual interest in the subject in so far as it affected our Catholic boys who were in increasing numbers joining up with open scout groups in which no special provision was made to safeguard their Catholic Spirit” “Before the journey end, therefore, it was decided that under his Grace's illustrious patronage Catholic Church Scouts should be established and that I should act as Chaplain Promoter with the St Vincent de Paul brothers as my co-helpers”.

The archbishop and a number of priests met on 19/11/1925 to take steps to start Catholic Scouting and Catholic Scouting was officially launched at St Felix Bankstown on 13/12/1925. The St Vincent de Paul Society adopted Catholic Scouting as a “special work” and provided many earlier leaders.

 

Administration of Catholic Scouting in NSW

Initially Father Daniel Hogan was liaising with the Scout Association of NSW and travelling to various parishes to encourage the establishment of Catholic Troops. As Catholic Scouting grew there was a need for a more formalised arrangement, and a Catholic State Executive Committee was formed with layside and clergy members.

 

South Coast Catholic Sponsored Groups (with registration dates)

8^th - 1st Gerringong (16 June 1926)

26^th - 2nd Goulburn (4/8/1926)

27^th - 3rd Goulburn (4/8/1926)

29^th - 2nd Queanbeyan (4/8/1926)

83^rd - 3rd Wollongong (21/11/1940)

85^th - 2nd Bowral (18/6/1942)

 

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