The Bishop England Trek is an opportunity for young Catholic men and women, ages 14 and older, who are involved in Scouting America’s Scouts BSA and/or Venturing programs. These youth meet, make friends, have fun and experience adventures that are linked together through prayer and worship.

Father S. Matthew Gray began the Bishop England Trek in 2015 after attending the St. George Trek at Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico. The St. George Trek is a biennial event for older Scouts who are discerning the priesthood and religious life. He realized the need for something that could help younger Scouts, ages 14-16, begin preparing physically and spiritually for deeper discernment.

“We named the new trek for Bishop John England, the first bishop of Charleston, who traveled tirelessly across a diocese that once covered much of what is now the Southeast,” Father Gray said. “His dedication to serving the entire region made him a fitting patron for a journey meant to inspire and form young Catholics.”

Each trek has featured a different theme to engage the Scouts in prayerful discussions and opportunities for personal discernment about what God’s call for them means. This year’s theme was “Sailing for Vocations,” featuring a sailing adventure on Lake Thurmond. While sailing and camping, Scouts were led through a program designed to encourage the integration of morality, values, spirituality, faith, Scripture and vocation in their lives as young Catholic men and women. They were accompanied by prayer, discussions and the daily celebration of Mass by Father Gray, along with Deacon Dan Gillan, Scout chaplain from the Diocese of Savannah.

Father Gray said “Sailing for Vocations” perfectly captured what discernment is about.

“When you are on the water, you have to be attentive to the wind, work together as a crew, trust your captain and be willing to change course when conditions shift. Discerning God’s call is much the same. It takes attention, trust and the courage to follow wherever he leads. Although I am no longer formally involved in Catholic Scouting in the diocese, I remain a strong supporter and was grateful for the chance to be present, to minister sacramentally to the Scouts and to sail with them on this voyage of faith,” he said.

“I’ve been involved with vocational discernment for youth and young adults most of my priesthood, and introducing young Scouts to the idea of vocational discernment has been one of the great joys of my priesthood. In Catholic Scouting, every activity, from the campfire to the chapel, should help form healthy, well-rounded, joyful young Catholic men and women ready to follow God’s call.”

At the conclusion of the trek was Mass and a luncheon, where the Scout participants were challenged to continue their journey of discernment with Christ. They were invited to apply to attend the St. George Trek next July to deepen their discernment. Participants were also encouraged to use the leadership skills gained on the Bishop England Trek to become role models for their fellow Scouts. The next Bishop England Trek will be held in 2027.

“I hope that these young men and women will carry what they learned on the water into every part of their lives — listening for the Spirit, trusting God’s direction and setting sail toward the mission he has for them,” Father Gray said.