The Council of General Commissioners and Presidents gathered this year 50 participants from 18 different associations in Knockadoon, a beautiful place near Cork, Ireland! The location was wonderful, just by the seaside, surrounded by the Irish green countryside.

After an early Mass on Saturday morning, we had the joy to have the recognition of two new and young General Commissioners: Léa Rougé in the Netherlands and Hilde-Joanna Iana-Ebenhöh in Romania.

Then started the work session on the question of the welcome of non-European associations in the UIGSE. It was introduced by a presentation by John Reid and Paul Ritchi on the fantastic work they do with the FNE (Federation of North American Explorers) on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. This opened intense reflections by General Commissioners and Presidents on the question of the UIGSE’s identity and founding charisma, and what place could have these non-European associations in the Union.

The work session then continued with a session on the Eurocamps, presented by Quentin Hallay. The Union really intends to encourage these international camps, that gathered up to 5 units from different countries, so that guides and scouts can meet their European brothers and sisters and camp together.

After some free time (to discover the landscapes around us, or chat with others…), we had a great Irish dinner prepared by just one cook, and an authentic scout campfire with wonderful plays, some Irish dances, and even a piece of music played on the harp! It ended with a prayer around the fire. Thank you to the guides, scouts, rovers and rangers for having given us such a good evening!

On Sunday morning, the work session went on, we took conclusions of the discussions of the weekend, and ended with miscellaneous questions. We then had Mass, the closing ceremony and the Farewell!

Thank you to the Irish team for the such a great (and sunny!) weekend in your beautiful country! We are looking forward to coming back!

Ad Mariam…Europa!

56 experts in scout branches and training from 12 different countries (Albania, Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Ukraine) met in Wroclaw, Poland, on 16-18 February 2024!

During two days, they talked and reflected about Europe and Patriotism. The weekend started with an interesting conference from Father Thomas Michelet on Europe’s spiritual vocation, that was followed by a workshop on how we implement the European dimension in the scout method. The reflection went on in the afternoon with a lecture given by a very special guest, the archduke Imre von Habsburg-Lothringen, who talked about “Europe and Patriotism: tensions and complementarities”, highlighting the fact that we have to pray for Europe, discover its cultural heritage, live the fraternity and fight for the soul of Europe, by being “creative minorities capable of changing the course of history”. The participants had then to actively participate in workshops, about Patriotism, Patriotism vc Civism (do we need national identity in scouting education?) and Patriotism in scouting practive, a toolbox to have some practical tools to put into practice once back home! That was a weekend full of intense and fruitful reflection.

The Polish logistics team did a wonderful job, welcoming us warmly in a beautiful convent near the mountains. They cooked delicious Polish food for us and organised with the Polish region an original visit of a castle on Saturday night, with some monsters and witches…!

The weekend ended with a closing gathering, where an Ukrainian guide got her green scarf and an Albanian guide got her green flow. Congratulations to them!

Thank you to the Polish team for this wonderful weekend! And thank you to all participants for coming to Poland!

 Ad Mariam… Europa !

Approaching the end of my seminary training, and the day of receiving the Sacrament of Order, at the degree of the diaconate, it is necessary to look back on everything I have experienced over these years and point out what helped me highlight what was good for me, who encouraged and supported me on my journey through the seminary.

Among all the things, I must mention AGEBR’s Catholic Scouting, which entered my walk somewhat without me wanting to, but now, even if I wanted to, I wouldn’t be able to take it away, because it was something I incarnated.

Woww… how I wish I had known about Catholic scouting sooner! I would have prevented so many things from happening in my life, on my journey…

The idea of having a rule of life, like the Scout Laws, having a path to follow, with pedagogical branches (Yellow, Green, and Red) is a true school, and I say a “factory” of saints.

As Chief Marcos, General Commissioner Scout of AGEBR, said at the 1st degree Training Weekend, when I participated in 2023: “There’s no way to go wrong, if everything is done as the method and pedagogy are proposed, and if made with love!“

This method enchanted me, as I saw with my own eyes the growth of some young people, it fueled my hope and opened my horizons to a youth that wants to grow and that is lacking references. And they found this reference in Catholic scouting and the AGEBR scout leaders.

Friendship is born within patrols and fraternity involves such a way that there is not only friendship but a brotherhood. This truly enchanted me and showed me a reality different from anything I knew within the Church and on my journey.

Everything I was able to learn here was not new to me, but it was presented to me in such a light way, so “interesting”, that it attracted me, and gave me a different perspective.

Trying to live the Law and the Promise was a new way of seeking to live the commandments, having a chief was a challenge to learn to fight against my desires, and begin a path of obedience, listening to young people and their desires, prepares me for the ministry in such a strong way, that I don’t even know how to describe what I feel in my heart, but I see God’s action, forming a priestly heart.

In short, Catholic Scouting, in its method, makes life simpler, as it incarnates and begins to be part of ourselves. I wasn’t a scout since I was little, and I had limitations in my experience, due to my state of life, but what I lived was an experience in such a sublime way, that it entered and is now part of me.

On my Honor and with God’s Grace, I promise to do my best, be the best I can dedicate myself to the ministry conferred on me sacramentally, take care of the flock entrusted to me, and live God’s will in my life!

Pray for me, my brothers, this poor servant, that he may be faithful to the ministry and the Promise he made!

Semper Parati!

Deacon Samuel

P.S.:  Deacon Samuel joined the AGEBR scout movement while he was still a seminarian. He completed all chief training and served as troop chief in the Green Branch in the northern region of Brazil.

Still as a deacon, he will work with the group as assistant troop chief in the parish where he pastors.

At the last Federal Council in Paris at the beginning of October, our union welcomed (unanimously and with a standing ovation!) Croatia as an Observer Association.

It was one of the rare countries in Europe where, until recently, there were no Scouts of Europe: until now in Croatia, there was a civil scout organisation and an independent Catholic scout association, which is closer to the WAGGS organisation (World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts). And we now also have the pleasure of seeing our Baussant (the flag of our movement) flying there too!

This group came into being thanks to its leader, Marko: “I was never involved in scouting, until 10 years ago when I started looking at something that was a good activity and good for raising my children.” Marko discovered Scouts of Europe and decided that he wanted to offer quality Catholic scouting to his children.

The Croatian association opened in 2020, and is currently made up of 2 groups, with one unit from each branch. It currently has around twenty children, but our youngest sister association is determined to grow!

“I am currently the only leader,” says Marko. “I have a large family so that slows me down a bit in my leadership role and in expanding to the other places, but my goal is to strengthen the group, find more leaders and expand into other areas.” The association has a presence on social networks and in the Catholic media and hopes to raise its profile to reach more children and families. “We are at the very beginning of our activities,” adds Marko, “there are a lot of difficulties, but I think I’m a bit stubborn, so I push on”.

The young association has already received some visits and support: this summer, Laurent Wallut, a French Scout, paid them an initial visit, provided them the necessary teaching materials and prepared for the arrival of a clan of Rovers from Lille (France) for their first Scout campfire. International exchanges form the basis of our Scout cooperation, and being a Scout of Europe means looking beyond borders!

Don’t hesitate to follow the Croatian association on the networks to support them, and if you’re passing through (whether on holiday, or who knows, at your next scout camp!) they’ll be delighted to chat with you.

• Website: https://skauti-europe.hr/ 
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