Scout Retreat 2025

By Fr. Mike Mendl, SDB

(New Rochelle, NY – November 24) – On Saturday, November 22, about 45 Scouts and more than a dozen Scouters and parents gathered for a day of retreat at Immaculate Conception Church in Stony Point, NY. Fr. Herb DeGaris, pastor and archdiocesan Scout chaplain, hosted them. The retreat was open to all Scouts in the archdiocese, but the attendees were mainly from Westchester, Putnam, Rockland, and Orange counties, primarily those in the Ad Altare Dei and Pope Pius XII religious emblems courses.

Adults had a separate retreat program as well as the option to be trained as religious emblems counselors.

The youths' program included a talk on vocation given in church by Fr. Luke Sweeney, archdiocesan vocations director; 3 sessions with witness talks and discussion led by 3 older Scouts (one by Daniel Berge of Salesian High School); opportunity for the sacrament of Reconciliation with Fr. Herb or Fr. Mike Mendl, SDB, and a good number of both youths and adults celebrated the sacrament; instruction on praying the Rosary; a short period of Eucharistic adoration; and an "instructional" celebration of the Eucharist in which Fr. Mike explained different aspects of Mass (besides a homily on the gospel). The "instructional" Mass has been part of the retreat program for years and years, instituted by the late Msgr. Anthony Marchitelli when he was archdiocesan chaplain. One of the program sessions was a lesson on St. Carlo Acutis, including the chance to earn a special patch by completing some activities, besides the customary retreat patch.

There was a separate program, focused on the 2025 Jubilee, for the 2 tiny Cub Scouts.

The Archdiocesan Committee on Scouting spent several months planning the retreat, particularly guided by Tom Liberati.