Scout Sunday celebrated across the United States

Did You Know…?

By Bob Oldowski (NCCS Historian)

Early In the 1930s, the newly-formed national bishops’ committee on Scouting grew more support. The Scouting program became approved by the American hierarchy as an approved youth program in the Church.

In late 1933, this committee reached a formal agreement (Plan of Cooperation) with the BSA on how the two would interact, and the bishops’ committee on Scouting began another phase. One year later, at the bishops’ annual meeting, a huge celebration marked the beginning of the national Catholic Boy Scout program. This committee continued its link with the bishops’ conference.

At this point the National BSA designated a Scouting professional, Kenneth Cook, as the Executive Secretary [Director] to the church organization and provided support for it through the BSA’s Relationships Division. A national CCS executive board was established, involving religious and lay leadership and included a bishop liaison (Episcopal Moderator) from the bishops’ conference. A lay volunteer would serve as National Chairman, supported by a National Chaplain. Board members would serve as committee leaders, with each committee having a chair and advisor, one being a layperson and one a religious.

Over the years, the NCCS accomplishments grew, resulting in establishment of a first set of by-laws in 1997. These directed how the NCCS itself was to be organized.