As part of the activities to mark 100 years of Scouting Worldwide and in Malta, the Scout Association of Malta organised a Scouts’ Own with the Archbishop, Mgr Paul Cremona, OP, at the Robert Samut Hall, next to the Scout Island Headquarters at Floriana.

In his welcoming address, Chief Scout Vincent Cassar welcomed Mgr Cremona, saying this was a memorable occasion for the association as it came at a time soon after the archbishop’s ordination as well as during the year when the association is celebrating, along with the rest of the Scouting world, the birth of the Scout Movement 100 years ago.

The Chief Scout presented Mgr Cremona with a stole bearing the insignia of the association, together with the insignia of the International Catholic Conference of Scouting (ICCS) of which the local association is a full member.

Those present at the Scouts’ Own, who consisted of National Scout Council members, Commissioners, Group Scout Leaders, Section Leaders and members of Group Councils, were led through a series of prayers, readings and the singing of hymns by Fr Anton Briffa, OFM Cap, the Association’s Commissioner for Religious Dimension.

In his short address to those present, Mgr Cremona spoke of the significance of the event in the context of the 100th anniversary of the Scout Movement and the 150th birthday of Lord Baden Powell, founder of Scouting. He added that one should not be afraid of proclaiming the faith and that it was very opportune for the leaders of the local Scout Association to manifest their faith and to transmit this to the other younger members of the association.

At the end of the Scouts’ Own prayer meeting, those present proceeded to the Scout Island Headquarters for a more informal meeting with Mgr Cremona.

In a short address, the Chief Scout said the theme chosen by the Scout Association of Malta for its own 100th anniversary – “Make a Difference – We Do” – was an affirmation of what the association had stood for during the last 100 years and what it aspired to remain standing for during the next 100 years.