NEBO — Catholic Scouts across the Diocese of Charlotte celebrated faith, fun and the historic election of Pope Leo XIV at the 2026 Catholic Camporee April 17-19.
Organized every spring by the Charlotte Diocese Catholic Committee on Scouting, the weekend of fellowship and adventure brought together more than 300 Scouts, parents and leaders. Highlights included popular scouting activities such as fishing, climbing, kite-flying and slingshots, Catholic-themed faith activities about the new American pope, and an evening program with skits and songs.
David Dorsch, troop committee chair at St. Patrick Cathedral’s Troop 9, served as Camporee scoutmaster. Camporee cubmaster was David Coe from St. Matthew Parish’s Pack 8 in Charlotte.
This year’s Camporee was the final one for Deacon Martin Ricart III, who is retiring as spiritual advisor to the diocese’s Catholic scouting program after serving 12 years. During the weekend, he passed the baton to Deacon Charles “Chuck” Hindbaugh, who was recently appointed by Bishop Michael Martin. Ordained in 2021, Deacon Hindbaugh serves at Our Lady of the Americas Parish in Biscoe.
The Camporee concluded with Mass Sunday morning in the Camp Grimes dining hall, offered by retired Father Dennis Kuhn.
During his homily, Father Kuhn enlisted the help of some of the youngest Scouts to illustrate the day’s Gospel reading about the two disciples meeting the risen Lord on the way to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35).
“The story of the road to Emmaus is absolutely beautiful,” Father Kuhn said.
As he retold the Gospel story, Father Kuhn handed the kids various poster signs he’d made: “Jesus,” “Traveler 1” and “Traveler 2,” “Emmaus – 7 miles,” and more. Then he held up a hotdog bun, delighting the kids.
“When the bread was broken, all of a sudden, what happened? Their eyes were opened,” he said, holding up a poster with a giant eye drawn on it.
“What are we going to do in a few moments over here, when we have the bread and the wine coming up? What happens to that bread – who does it become?” he asked. “Jesus!” the kids cheered.
“Yes, we find Jesus in the breaking of the bread,” he explained. Jesus is also found in our families and among the sick, the forgotten and the needy among us, he said.
“Remember this story,” he told them. “Believe and trust in Jesus Christ. That’s what it’s about.”
He encouraged the kids to pray like the disciples on the road to Emmaus did when they asked Jesus: “Stay with us.”
“Stay with me, be present to me, be present to my family,” he told the kids to pray. “Be present to those who are sick and suffering, be present to those I’ve lost in life.”
After the Mass, Scouts in attendance at the Camporee who had earned their Catholic religious emblems over the past year were recognized. Among them were:
- American Heritage Girls Troop NC 0146 (St. John Neumann Parish, Charlotte): Lucy Wood, “Deus et Familia Mea” (“God and My Family”)
- Cub Scout Pack 8 (St. Matthew Parish, Charlotte): Xavier Ahn, Light of Christ
- Cub Scout Pack 97 (St. Mark Parish, Huntersville): Tahina Ramarijaona, Light of Christ; Aaron Suhocki, Light of Christ; Jesse Suhocki, Light of Christ
- Cub Scout Pack 174 (St. Gabriel Parish, Charlotte): Sydney Michalek, Parvuli Dei
- Cub Scout Pack 324 (Sacred Heart Parish, Salisbury): Juliana Becker, Light of Christ
- Cub Scout Pack 721 (Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, High Point): Julieta Pietrangelo, Light of Christ; Felix Pietrangelo, Parvuli Dei; Owen Jenkins, Parvuli Dei; Finley Jarvis, Parvuli Dei
Six adult Scouting leaders were also recognized for their exceptional efforts in Scouting, with either the Bronze Pelican or St. George emblem.
The Bronze Pelican is a diocesan-level Catholic Scouting award honoring significant contributions to the spiritual development of Catholic youth. Recipients were:
- Debbie Johnson: St. Patrick Cub Scout Pack 9
- David Dorsch: St. Patrick Scout Troop 9
- Russ Anderson: St. Gabriel Scout Troop 174
- James Bolling, Edan Idzerda and Basil Lyberg: St. Matthew Scout Troop 8
The St. George emblem is awarded by the National Catholic Committee on Scouting on the recommendation of the diocesan scouting committee, to people who have made exemplary contributions to Catholic scouting within their units. Recipients were:
- Frank Schofield, St. Matthew Scout Troop 8
- Leslie Tesch, St. Gabriel Scout Troop 1174
“With Scouting, parents, parishes and dioceses have another avenue through which Catholic principles of ethics and morals can be shared and reinforced with youth,” said Mike Nielsen, chairman of the Charlotte Diocese Catholic Committee on Scouting. “The Catholic Camporee is a great opportunity to bring together youth and adults for Scouting activities, fun and fellowship.
An event like this isn’t possible without the involvement of many committed volunteers,” he said. “We are blessed to have so many people actively engaged in planning and presenting the Camporee. We are grateful to each and every one of them.”
— Patricia L. Guilfoyle. Photos by Brandon Whelan and Patricia Guilfoyle.
