Prima Pagina, by Redazione Prima Pagina Mazara: (translated from Italian) About 500 scouts yesterday morning participated in the event “100 years of Scouting in Mazara del Vallo” organized by A.G.E.S.C.I. (Italian Catholic Guides and Scouts Association), A.I.S.A. (Italian Adventist Scout Association), F.S.E. (Italian Association of Catholic Guides and Scouts of Europe) and M.A.S.C.I. (Italian Catholic Scout Adult Movement). The goal of the organizers, as underlined in the various speeches, was to “create a bridge between the past and the future to keep the scout spirit alive in society.
A day of joy to be experienced together involving the whole city and the people who, in some way, have been part of scouting in all these years. A tribute to all those who, through the scout method, have contributed to making the community stronger and more united.” Our editorial staff followed the various moments of the entire celebratory day. The program saw the gathering of the various departments of the Associations in Piazza della Repubblica with the flag-raising ceremony which saw the participation of the bishop of the Diocese, Monsignor.
Giurdanella who underlined the importance of the service. At the Basilica Cathedral “S.S. Salvatore” at 9 am the Eucharistic celebration was held presided over by the same mons.
Giurdanella where the scouts participated and at the end of this they lined up again in a “square” for the lowering of the flag; here the mayor of the city Salvatore Quinci intervened and also spoke about his scout experience.
Subsequently, there was the inauguration at the premises of the former “Nova Iuventus” (ground floor of the Episcopal Seminary) of the Philatelic exhibition “Scouting in stamps” and the presentation of the philatelic cancellation of Poste Italiane by the Circolo Filatelico Numismatico Mazarese. At the Episcopal Seminary of Mazara del Vallo.
The day ended with the conference “Scouting in Mazara: 100 years at the service of young people” which was held in the Aula S. Carlo of the Episcopal Seminary. The meeting was moderated by the psychologist Maria Lisma who in the past was also a scout in the AGESCI group. First, there was the reading of the message from the national leaders of AGESCI and FSE. Antonio Scalini, former scout leader, head of the Study and Documentation Center on Scouting in Sicily presented “Gocce di Zagara,” a historical summary, accompanied by photos and documents, on scouting in Sicily from its origins to today with references to the reality of Mazara del Vallo.
Scouting was born with Baden Powell in England in 1907, and just a few years later it arrived in Italy. In Mazara del Vallo, as proven by research done on city scout documents, in 1924 the foundation of an ASCI Troop is attested. Since that distant day, generations of young people have undertaken this educational path of which service, adventure and active citizenship are the founding values. Over the course of these 100 years (except for a brief forced break due to the dissolution by the fascist regime) scouting has trained hundreds of boys and girls in Mazara del Vallo accompanying them in the growth and development of skills, values and spirit of service.
Speech by Guido Quinci, former AGESCI scout leader in Mazara del Vallo, with “Letters from Prehistory,” historical testimonies on the scout movement in Mazara, with readings of newspaper articles, letters and excerpts from books from 1922 to the 1940s. Speech by Nino Ingoglia, former scout leader and university professor, on the topic “The Educational Proposal of Catholic Scouting: between Identity and Specificity”. Daniela Ferrara, also a scout leader and former AGESCI chief guide, spoke about the “Contribution of Scouting to the Country and the Church: a Look at the Future,” followed by several subsequent speeches and testimonies until the conclusion of the conference with a message of thanks and continuity for the future of scouting in Mazara del Vallo. During the same day we conducted several interviews with scout leaders, of the present and the past, of the various Associations.
Our Comment:
Should we take our youth to a Catholic mass to build bridges between Adventists and Catholics? What happened to the discernment of SDAs? To where is this all leading?
Prophetic Link:
“While men are sleeping, Satan is actively arranging matters so that the Lord’s people may not have mercy or justice. The Sunday movement is now making its way in darkness. The leaders are concealing the true issue, and many who unite in the movement do not themselves see whither the undercurrent is tending. Its professions are mild and apparently Christian, but when it shall speak it will reveal the spirit of the dragon. It is our duty to do all in our power to avert the threatened danger. We should endeavor to disarm prejudice by placing ourselves in a proper light before the people. We should bring before them the real question at issue, thus interposing the most effectual protest against measures to restrict liberty of conscience. We should search the Scriptures and be able to give the reason for our faith. Says the prophet: “The wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.” Testimonies to the Church, Vol. 5, page 452.1.
Comments
Will F.
Saturday February 15th, 2025 at 11:27 AMThe international scouting movement is good in many ways, particularly in instilling good character and moral values. It was a large part of my growing up.
However, I can attest that Sunday observance was and likely still remains a big part of the weekend camping events that occur quarterly. Troops arrive on Fridays and encampments are set up usually before Sabbath starts, and the main activities occur throughout the Sabbath hours. On Sundays, before everyone breaks camp, there is a nondenominational (or perhaps one could say all-denominational) worship service and concluding assembly.
I was always aware of the Sabbath long before I joined the Boy Scouts. I posed these questions of Sabbath vs Sunday and no one had a satisfying answer, HOWEVER, throughout my scouting years, I was regularly exposed to 7th-day Adventism because the scout camp was just a few miles from Berrien Springs, home of Andrews University. God used this proximity to draw me to Him in the observance of His holy day made for us.
Without compromising SDA principles, I can affirm that Pathfinders CAN and SHOULD interact at some level with Scouting so that young minds can be exposed to, and thereby consider, the pillars of our faith – particularly the Sabbath and the state of the dead. Yet we should take care to not give way to the scheduling of activities in a way that would violate a pure and undefiled Sabbath experience.