What is the objective of The Catholic Scout Guild?

 

The objective of The Catholic Scout Guild is to bring together all Catholic Scouts, Girl Guides and those belonging to Catholic Sponsoring Authorities in order to establish a better understanding and find a way to improve Scouting and Guiding through a better knowledge of our religious duties and through an active spiritual life as members of the Church especially that of Hong Kong.

  

What is the mission of The Catholic Scout Guild?

 

To love the Bible means to love both the world and the Church as well as to discover each day the Faith of the people in the living God.? It is the mission of The Catholic Scout Guild to educate the Catholics in Hong Kong Scouting and Guiding to be able to witness today and in the coming changing and challenging decade the living words of Our Lord in and through Scouting and Guiding Movements.

Moreover, the mission of the Catholic Scout Guild is to help youths in Hong Kong Scouting and Guiding, especially those belonging to Catholic Sponsoring Authorities, to expand their vision to see themselves not only as members of a particular Scout Group or Girl Guide Company, but also as members of the universal community -- the CHURCH.

The Catholic Scout Guild is a partnership and a bridge linking the Scout and Girl Guides Association Headquarters and the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong.? Partnership implies working together and pulling together.? Through communication and co-operation, people from different backgrounds can be brought together and reconciled, then people can be led to a deeper understanding of each other and to engage in more profitable encounters.

  

What are the terms of reference of The Catholic Scout Guild?

 
  • To provide professional guidance for members in the Hong Kong Scout and Girl Guide movement in performing their ˇ§Duty to Godˇ¨ with reference to the criterion of Catholicism.
  • To provide religious training, which is based on Catholic faith, for Scouts and Girl Guides in Hong Kong through the running of the KIRO Badge Scheme.
  • To render spiritual life through Church events and Scouting and Guiding activities for members of the Movement, especially the Catholics in Hong Kong Scout and Girl Guide Movement.
  • To liaise with the representatives of the sponsoring authorities (that is, parish priests, school supervisors, school principals, etc.) of Scout Groups and Girl Guide Companies so as to enhance their understanding of Scout and Girl Guide Movement and to strengthen their role played in the Movement.
  • To liaise with the Association Headquarters and to convey the messages from the Church to the Headquarters and vice versa so as to intensify the co-operation and harmonic relationship between the Church and the Headquarters.
  • To represent the Catholics in Hong Kong Scouting and Guiding in communication with the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong, other Catholic organisations in the Diocese and in the universal Church.
  

When was The Catholic Scout Guild established?
 

Spiritual dimension of Scouting and the organisational structure in HK Scouting follow the British model which is unitary with only one Scout Association.? The Catholic Scout Advisory Council and the Diocesan Guilds in the Scout Association take care of the spiritual life of the Catholics in Scouting.? The Hong Kong Scout Association was a branch of the Boy Scout Association in UK in the post-war years.? Following the organisational structure in UK, The Catholic Scout Guild in Hong Kong was established in 1949 with the approval of the Colony Commissioner.

On 21 April 1959 a Conference for all Catholic Scouters and Commissioners was called by the late Most Rev. Lawrence Bianchi, Bishop of Hong Kong and chaired by the late Brother Mario Colleoni, Group Scout Leader of the Cathedral Scout Group and a keen supporter to the Catholics in HK Scouting.? At the Conference the formal status of The Catholic Scout Guild in the Diocese of HK was firmly incorporated.

The late Mr J W Cockburn, Colony Commissioner of the Association confirmed and approved the operation of the KIRO Scheme for Catholics in HK Scouting in his letter of 28 July 1959.? The KIRO Training has been practised in HK since then.

  

Who are members of The Catholic Scout Guild?

 
  • All Catholic members in Hong Kong Scout and Girl Guide Movement are members of The Catholic Scout Guild.
  • All members, both baptised and non-baptised, in Catholic sponsored Scout Groups and Girl Guide Companies are members of The Catholic Scout Guild.? Catholic sponsored Groups and Companies include Scout Groups and Girl Guide Companies run by Catholic Schools, Catholic Parish, the Caritas and other Catholic institutions or organisations recognised by the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong.
  

How much should members pay to The Catholic Scout Guild?

 

Spiritual dimension of Scouting and the organisational structure in HK Scouting follow the British model which is unitary with only one Scout Association.? The Catholic Scout

Subscription by members is NOT required.? However, donations to The Catholic Scout Guild are always welcome.

  

How does The Catholic Scout Guild work?
 

(A) The patron and advisory personnel

Patron: ???? The Roman Catholic Bishop of Hong Kong
Advisers: ? The Vicars General, the Episcopal Vicars, the Chancellor and other personnel playing a leading role in the Diocese and concerning Scouting and Guiding in Hong Kong are invited to be Advisers of The Catholic Scout Guild.

(B) The Executive Committee

Chaplain:
To be appointed by the Bishop of Hong Kong.
Spiritual Directress:
To be appointed by the Bishop of Hong Kong.
Chair-person:
To be appointed by the Bishop of Hong Kong.
Vice Chair-persons:
To be appointed by the Bishop of Hong Kong.
Hon. Secretary:
To be appointed by the Bishop of Hong Kong.
Hon. Treasurer:
To be appointed by the Chair-person.
Other ExCom members:
To be appointed by the Chair-person.

(C) Working Groups and Working Committees

All are welcome to join the Working Group or Sub-committee to take an active part in and work together for the betterment of the Catholics in Hong Kong Scouting and Guiding.

Please be noted that there is neither paid staff nor full-time Scouters/Guiders in The Catholic Scout Guild.? Everyone makes use of his/her spare time and works on voluntary basis.
  

What does The Catholic Scout Guild do?
 
  • The Catholic Scout Guild organises Scouting and Guiding activities, camps, competitions, meetings, workshops, training courses and seminars in order to educate and develop the Scouts and Girl Guides in the life of the Church within Scouting and Guiding Movement.
  • The Catholic Scout Guild drafts documents, produces guidelines supplies teaching aids to improve and enhance the training of Scouts and Girl Guides in manipulation of the promise duty to God.
  • The Catholic Scout Guild holds meetings in promoting and encouraging the exchange of experiences between the sponsoring authorities and Groups and Companies, between the Diocese and the Association Headquarters, between different bodies and organisations.
  • The Catholic Scout Guild co-operates with other organisations in the Diocese and the universal Church in pursuing a better understanding and education in Catholic faith as well as Scouting and Guiding Movement.
  

What are our major annual events?
 
  • ˇ§Duty to Godˇ¨ Day celebration ˇV An annual gathering for Catholics in HK Scouting and Girl Guide Movement to renew and reaffirm our Promise to do our best to do our duty to God.
  • Bishop Shield Competition ˇV A gathering and an inter-Scout Groups and Girl Guide Companies competition on Scout craft and Catechism.
  • Annual Camp ˇV A holiday camp for Cub Scouts, Scouts, Brownies and Girl Guides from Catholic Scout Groups and Girl Guide Companies held in Christmas holidays.
  • Caritas Bazaar ˇV The Guild participates in the annual Caritas Fund Raising Campaign by running a stall in the Bazaar to raise money for the poor and needy in the society.
  


What is the KIRO Training Scheme?
 

Spiritual dimension of Scouting and the organisational structure in HK Scouting follow the British model which is unitary with only one Scout Association.? The Catholic Scout

Subscription by members is NOT required.? However, donations to The Catholic Scout Guild are always welcome.

  

What and where are the activity centres managed by The Catholic Scout Guild?

 

Our Lady of Seven Sorrows Chapel and Sea Activity Centre at Pak Tam Chung, Sai Kung
The centre was opened in 1980.? It is a centre for canoeing and boating activities. The open-air altar and podium is good for celebrating mass by Girl Guides and Scouts.

Immaculate Heart of Mary Chapel and Holiday Camp at Pak Sha O, Sai Kung
The centre was opened in 1982.? It is a centre which can be used for holiday camps as well as retreats for leaders, girls and boys.

Rosary Chapel and Pioneering Centre at Wong Mo Ying, Sai Kung
The chapel is licensed to 117th East Kowloon Scout Group (St Vincentˇ¦s Parish and Wong Tai Sin Catholic Primary School).? A centre for pioneering activity has been run by The Catholic Scout Guild with kind permission of the 117th East Kowloon Scout Group since 1983

  


What is the meaning of the design of the KIRO Badge which is also the logo of The Catholic Scout Guild?

 

The design reveals the combination of two Greek alphabets ˇ§Xˇ¨ and ˇ§Pˇ¨ which are the first two letters of the Greek ˇ§XPICTOCˇ¨ meaning Christ.? That is, the "X" is the "CH" or "chi" and that the "P" is the "R" or "rho", "X" and "P" together is what we call the ˇ§KIRO (Chi-rho)ˇ¨.? At the time of investiture to become a member of the Movement, we have promised to try our best to do our duty to God, our Lord. The design symbolises that members of The Catholic Guild are loyal to Christ our Lord all the time, followers of Christ and always ready to be the witness of Christ.