| 12/9/2009 3:46:00 PM | Email this article • Print this article |
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| CS PHOTO BY MICHAEL HOYT
Msgr. John Brady receives the second annual Robert M. Hanson “Good Scout” Award on Dec. 3 at the National Capital Area Council, Boy Scouts of America’s “Salute to Scouting” at the Hyatt Regency Bethesda. Msgr. Brady has served as a Boy Scout chaplain for 43 years. From left to right, is Boy Scout Thomas Rada, Msgr. Brady’s nephew; Msgr. Brady; Alan Lambert, Scout executive and CEO for the council, and Robert Hanson, the man the award is named after. |
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Msgr. John Brady honored with 'Good Scout' Award
LAURA WRIGHT
Catholic Standard
Msgr. John Brady has been a Boy Scout his entire life.
It's where he first felt called to the priesthood, and learned how to make good ethical and moral choices, he said.
"What they teach is to be what God wants you to be, and to become what you promise," he said. Boy Scouts is a "training ground for future leaders of the Church and the country because they grow up promising to be trustworthy. Scout training carries through their whole life."
Msgr. Brady, who served as a Boy Scout camp chaplain for the past 43 years, was honored with the second annual Robert M. Hanson "Good Scout" Award on Dec. 3 at the National Capital Area Council, Boy Scouts of America's "Salute to Scouting" at the Hyatt Regency Bethesda. The award -- a replica of a sundial at Goshen Scout Reservation -- is presented to individuals who believe strongly in supporting Goshen Scout Reservation and its mission to become the premier Scout camp in the country. When Goshen Scout Reservation was opened in 1967, Msgr. Brady gave the invocation at the opening ceremony. The camp is located outside of Lexington, Va.
Two members of the Knights of Columbus, dressed in their full regalia, stood guard as Msgr. Brady received his award. He also received a citation from Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley for his outstanding service to the Boy Scouts of America and the people of Maryland.
As a boy, Msgr. Brady was a member of Boy Scout Troop 4, chartered to St. Ann's Parish in Washington. He later earned the rank of Eagle Scout and served for two years as Scoutmaster for his troop. While attending the National Jamboree in 1950, he felt called to serve God as a priest. One of the chaplains at the jamboree, a Catholic priest, asked Msgr. Brady "What are you going to be?"
Brady, then a student at Georgetown who hoped to join the Army, said he was getting ready to be sworn in.
The priest chaplain responded, "No, you're not going to do that, you're going to the seminary," Msgr. Brady said.
'Always thinking of others'
Msgr. Brady was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Washington in 1955. His first assignment was at Holy Redeemer in Kensington before becoming chaplain for Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring. He served as pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Pomfret, St. John Vianney in Prince Frederick, and Holy Angels in Avenue, and earlier as an associate pastor of the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Washington and St. John the Baptist in Silver Spring. Msgr. Brady retired in 2005.
His sister, Therese Brady Donohue, said her brother has devoted his life to Scouting, and deserves the "Good Scout" award.
"He is always thinking of others before himself. (Boy Scouts) has been part of his life forever," she said.
Sister Marian Brady, a Sister of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Ind., and Msgr. Brady's sibling, said he exemplifies the ideals held by the Boy Scouts.
"He lives his life according to them (the ideals), and he wants to serve other people," she said.
A reflection about "A 21st Century Scout," written by Msgr. Brady, was included in the program for the event. He said a Scout is "one who observes, explores, sets out on a lifelong journey to satisfy curiosity about everything visible on planet earth: the marvels of the universe; the invisible; and the mysteries of eternal life."
"A 21st century Scout places virtues; values; good ethical and moral choices; above the material things held dear by this world. He does not turn the celebrities in the world of music, entertainment, movies, politics, academia, or athletics into idols. A Scout admires his heroes, but worships God alone," he wrote.
Randy Mardres, a friend of Msgr. Brady and a fellow Boy Scout, said Msgr. Brady has an adventurous, Boy Scout-like spirit.
Msgr. Brady, Mardes and a few others went on a 2,000- mile canoe trip in the Canadian Arctic in the 1970s. Msgr. Brady would celebrate Mass every Sunday, no matter where they were, Mardres said.
He added that Msgr. Brady is very good at working with youth. "He uses innovative ways to involve the youth," he said.
Msgr. Brady is also a singer, songwriter and outdoorsman.
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