The Portuguese association of Guides and Scouts of Europe celebrated last weekend – 8th and 9th of June – their 40th anniversary! During a pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of Fatima, several groups from various parts of the country gathered to celebrate this important moment of their education movement for children, teenagers and adults.

In the presence of the Federal Commissioner of the UIGSE-FSE, Bruno Borde, who gave us the joy of spending this moment with us, wolf cubs, guides, scouts, rangers, rovers and leaders lived a great weekend of true scout fraternity.

20190608 - 40e anniversary of Portuguese association

Vitor Almeida


36 members of the Romanian Christian Scouts Association – Federation of Scouts of Europe –  volunteered in Blaj (Romania, Transylvania) under the coordination of the organizers of Pope Francis’ visit. There were three days of intense labour between May 31 – June 2, filled with the joy of meeting the scouts of six different groups from all over the country and with brothers from other scout associations. Therefore, the volunteers completed Pope’s visit motto, “Let’s Walk Together”, with the idea of working together.

The Romanian FSE scouts mainly contributed to organising the events in Blaj, with the participation of more than 50,000 faithful, the Liturgy and the beatification of seven Romanian Greek-Catholic bishops killed during the communist persecution. The culminating moment of the Holy Father’s visit in Romania, the beatification of the seven Romanian martyrs, captured many of the scout volunteers in different points in which they were assigned to work – at the access gates, in the protocol area or distributing food and water. However, they enjoyed the fact that the pilgrims they served and other dozens of their brothers – the younger scouts, under the age of 16, who couldn’t be volunteers – lived in the plenary the moments of beatification.

The Romanian FSE scouts were also particularly happy when Diana and Octavian – a brownie and a scout of the “Blessed Vasile Aftenie” Group in Bucharest, the great-grandchildren of a Romanian patriot who survived Soviet Gulag and a notorious Romanian communist extermination prison, were the teens who welcomed Pope Francis at his landing at Otopeni airport in Bucharest.

Among those who participated as volunteers in Blaj there were the President of the Association – Sorin Opriș, the two General Commissioners – Mihai Zanfir and Lucia Trandafir, the National Secretary – Alin Bărbatu and the Group Leader Valeriu Domuţa. Other scout leaders couldn’t travel to Blaj, having to comment for the public TV and a private station the events in Blaj. The next morning, on Monday, June 3, 25 of the volunteers were at their classes, being high school students, and another 5 students were preparing for the exam session. We are grateful for their devotion and service, for showing that they are always ready to serve.

One week later, the Romanian FSE scouts took part in the procession with the relics of the Blessed Vasile Aftenie, killed in 1950, a former scout himself, one of the seven bishops beatified by Pope Francis.

Only two months ago, at the common General Assembly that took place in Blaj (the same episcopal town which was the place of beatification), the Christian Romanian Scouts Association and the greek-catholic Romanian United Scouts Association, sharing the same pedagogy, decided to „walk together”, following the motto of Pope Francis’ visit that was going to take place. The Groups from the Greek-Catholic Association were integrated in ACCR-FSE and a new Guide General Commissioner, Lucia Trandafir, was chosen from this Association alongside Mihai Zanfir, the Scout General Commissioner. We had the support of the FSE representatives Bruno Borde, Federal Commissioner, and Richard Uri, and the blessings of the greek-catholic bishops Mihai Frăţilă of Bucharest and Claudiu Pop from Blaj.

20190531 - FSE volunteers for Pope Francis visit

new commissionner
new commissionner
general assembly
general assembly
go to assembly
go to assembly
beatification mass
beatification mass

 


On April 15th, 2019, a tragic fire burnt the Cathedral Notre Dame of Paris in France ; a lot of people were shocked by the pictures of this drama. For UIGSE-FSE, it has a particular resonance, as during the first Eurojam in summer 1984, The Guides and Scouts of Europe have consecrated their movement to Our Lady of Annunciation in this Cathedral.
Therefore it’s under her eyes upon us, that the jewel of culture, beauty and faith must be rebuilt. 
 
Ad Mariam Europa !
Bruno Borde, Federal Commissioner

EUROJAM 1984 - Notre Dame (SDE n°100)

 

While the last winter winds shake the big trees, Château-Landon welcomes the General Commissioners of our UIGSE movement, gathered for one weekend by Bruno Borde, the new Federal Commissioner. He welcomes us “in our home”, reminding that this place is also the UIGSE headquarters.

The weekend is officially opened after the Saturday morning mass and a beautiful flag ceremony: The national flags of 17 countries represented wave in the wind over our heads during the whole meeting.

Bruno presents his new team, supported by Milisenta (Lithuania) and recalls the goal of our meetings and monthly conference calls recently put in place: to strengthen our fraternity, to promote interactive exchanges.

During the weekend, each association gives a brief presentation of its strengths, weaknesses, difficulties and challenges. This enriching work allows all associations to compare, bring together and exchange their points of view and their situations depending on the addressed points.

Several work sessions take turns: situation of the Euromoot project, UIGSE internal and external communication, means of collaboration among the General Commissioners, speech of our Federal Religious Adviser about the role of the National Religious Adviser, analysis of statistics…

Then a good break: Hour of the road/moment of silence, dinner, and evening program: The French association has recently bought a building to store its equipment stockpiled during decades and destined to support the 90 annual training camps. The association invites us to visit and bless this place located 500 meters from the national centre, after some dances, short plays and songs. A quiet return and then silence of the night, well respected and much appreciated.

Last presentations on Sunday morning. In the last session, the federal calendar for the next two years is quickly set up with the contribution of all participants: Arms raise to welcome the next Federal Council, the High Patrol weekend, the Woodbadge Days, the 12-star Camp: Italy, Switzerland, Ukraine, Slovakia, Portugal, Germany, Poland… Long live our scout Europe with such enthusiasm!

We entrust this Europe to the Lord during the closing mass before the flag ceremony and the FSE call “Ad Mariam Europa”!

 

Marie-Amélie von Loë, CNG Luxembourg