Girl Scouts Louisiana East honors three St. Charles Parish leaders for their support

Viewing the Girl Scouts as a safe environment to meet, pay and learn, the Rev. Wayne Taylor wanted to remind church leaders to support a group that could “help strengthen the world.”

Taylor didn’t expect an award for doing what he thought was right, but one came anyway.

Girls Scouts Louisiana East recently recognized three St. Charles Parish leaders, including Taylor of New Life Community Church in Luling and the Rev.

Thomas McCann III of St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Destrehan among its Outstanding Religious Leader Award recipients. Also, Mary Schmidt, principal of St. Charles Borromeo School in Destrehan received the Outstanding Principal Award.

Each year the organization recognizes the outstanding contributions of school principals and religious leaders, furthering the Council’s ability to offer Girl Scouting throughout the community.

They were recognized at the Girl Scouts Louisiana East’s annual meeting in April.

“I do what ever I can to enable Scout groups to form, to have a safe and usable meeting place,” Taylor said. “My hope is to support in an manner the involvement of kids, youth and adult leaders in scouting.The adult leaders are the real heroes of the different scouting groups.”

Taylor was honored for actively encouraging and supporting Girl Scouting among the congregation at New Life Community Church, which serves as a meeting location for several Girl Scout troops.

He coordinates a Girl Scout Sunday recognition program where troops are involved in the worship service, and also invites Girl Scout troops to help with various church service projects.

He encourages parental involvement in Girl Scouting and actively promotes the program to the entire congregation and within the community.

“Scouting is important because it brings together a wide range of both adults and children,” he said. “These interactions have the girls and adults  meeting new people and making new friends, all the while learning new skills. Some of the trips they make help open small eyes to our big and wondrous world.”

Schmidt said she was surprised and delighted to know her girls and their parents nominated her for the award.

“We have several troops meeting here after school with their leaders from Daisies and Brownies to Cadets,” she said. “It is a pleasure to support scouting as they learn to care of the environment and serve others.”

St. Charles Borromeo has four active Girl Scout troops, allowing girls to show their support by wearing their Girl Scout uniform on meeting days, and frequently visits troop meetings where helps girls achieve their goals.

“We are enthusiastic about extracurricular activities that help our children grow and exercise the mission of our school – to glorify God in our work in our play in what we think and what we say. “

According to Girls Scouts Louisiana East, McCann “is a huge supporter of Girl Scouting at St. Charles Borromeo and is always interested in hearing from the girls about their various activities.”

He is especially accommodating during the cookie season, allowing Girl Scout Daisies to set up cookie booths outside of mass, which he encourages parishioners to visit following church.

 

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