A program developed to coordinate physical and spiritual development.
The Rosary Hike Program is now in its fourth year of meeting on a monthly basis. Each month since October of 2007, scouts have been taking a 3 mile hike originating from Assumption BVM Church in Belmont, Michigan. During this hike the scouts lead a Rosary.
Information regarding the Rosary Hikes:
37 consecutive hikes
50 youth participants (cub scouts, boy scouts, girl scouts, siblings...)
hundreds of individual Rosaries prayed by the youth
25 adult participants (scouters, parishioners, Knights of Columbus, non-Catholics...)
13 Rosary Staffs bestowed (earned after 10 Rosary Hikes)
This program has deepened the faith of both youth and adults. A recent Scouter who has been in attendance for the past 4 Rosary Hikes is using our program to facilitate his children’s Religious education. For him, this program strengthens his children’s Faith. Another family’s participation on the Rosary Hikes had some part in the conversion of the family members to the Catholic Faith. Only the mother of the family was a practicing Catholic. The husband and two children, all of whom participated in the Rosary Hikes from the beginning, converted in 2009.
The scouts never complain about praying the Rosary but rather the 3 mile hike! July has been the best attended Rosary Hike as we complete an 8 mile Rosary Bike Hike to nearby Rockford, Michigan which serves wonderful hotdogs and ice cream. The GRCCS has hosted an annual Scout Recognition Mass for 2010 and 2011. We have hosted Rosary hikes each of these two years. Footsteps of American Saints program has been offered in conjunction with the Rosary Hikes and approximately 5 youth have earned and received the patches for the first 8 Saints.