“When you’re out in the mountains, you’re in the presence of
God,” said Msgr. John B. Brady, a lifelong Scout, Scout
chaplain and avid outdoorsman.
He still loves those mountains and rivers even into his
eighth decade. When he talks about hiking or canoeing you can
see a bit of the young Washington schoolboy and Boy Scout
return.
Msgr. Brady was born at Providence Hospital in Washington May
7, 1929, to John and Mary Brady. He was raised in Chevy
Chase, Md., attending St. Ann Church in Washington where he
was baptized, received first Communion, confirmed and
eventually celebrated his first Mass.
Msgr. Brady attended Georgetown Preparatory in Bethesda, Md.,
and eventually Georgetown University in Washington, where he
majored in physics,ran track and was active in ROTC. His
father was a patent attorney and hoped his son would
eventually earn a law degree and follow him in the trade.
But he took a different path.
At St. Ann he became a Scout at 13, a late age to join, but
it was the beginning of his lifelong dedication, and
association, with Scouting. Eventually he rose to Eagle Scout
at age 16 and then Scout master of troop No. 4 at 21.
He’s attended every National Scout Jamboree – they’re held
every four years – since the first one in Washington, D.C.,
in 1937.
That jamboree was set around the Washington Monument and the
Tidal Basin. President Franklin Roosevelt attended. Msgr.
Brady said that for obvious logistical reasons, that was the
last time a jamboree was held in a major city.
In 1950, while at the jamboree in Valley Forge, Pa., he met
Scout chaplain Father Robert Brown. It was a life-changing
event.
“What are you going to be?” the priest asked the young man.
He said he was going to make a career out of the military and
would be commissioned into the Army after graduation.
“Turn it down,” said the priest, “you’re going to the
seminary.”
Following Father Brown’s admonition, he enrolled at St.
Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore and was ordained in 1955 by
Cardinal Patrick A. O’Boyle in St. Matthew Cathedral in
Washington.
“God wanted me to become a priest,” he said of his sidelined
law career.
His first assignment after ordination was as associate pastor
at Holy Redeemer Church in Kensington, Md. He served there
until 1963. During his tenure at Holy Redeemer he was
appointed the Washington archdiocesan chaplain for Boy
Scouts, Girl Scouts and Campfire Girls.
In 1967, Msgr. Brady began his long involvement as chaplain
of the Goshen Scout Reservation near Lexington. He goes there
every summer and stays on the reservation.
During his priestly ministry, he served as pastor of many
parishes in the archdiocese, building churches and even
throwing in a stint working for Bishop Fulton J. Sheen
distributing the bishop’s talks on cassette tapes around the
world. But Scouting was always close to his heart and he
supported it continuously.
He retired from active ministry in 2005 as pastor of Holy
Angels Church in Avenue Md., where he started Sea Scout Troop
548.
When he retired, an award in his name was established by the
archdiocese to honor those showing outstanding Scouting
leadership.
Even though enrollment in Scouting has declined in recent
years, Msgr. Brady said that Scouting can be an important
part of a young person’s life.
“(Boys) are searching for what they want to do in their
life,” he said.
Scouting is not an easy path to follow and Msgr. Brady thinks
that may have something to do with declining membership.
“We were not called to an easy life,” he said. “It’s hard.
(But) It’s one of the most successful youth movements in the
world.”
Msgr. Brady gives kudos to the Arlington Diocese for its
involvement in Scouting.
“(Arlington) Bishop (Paul S.) Loverde is very supportive of
the Scouts,” he said.
And the numbers show it.
“The Diocese of Arlington has one of the most successful
Scouting programs in the nation,” said Msgr. Brady, citing
national Boy Scouts of America statistics. “Ninety percent of
parishes have a Scouting program. Sixty-eight parishes
sponsor 63 Scouting units. In addition, the Knights of
Columbus sponsor another 23 Scouting units.”
Msgr. Brady also said he sees Scouting as a vocational tool
and works the National Jamborees.
“I try to spot vocations,” he said. “I wouldn’t be a priest
if it wasn’t for the jamboree.”
He said he’s sent at least one Scout to seminary from every
jamboree he’s attended as a priest.
He’s still active in the National Catholic Committee on
Scouting, but being with the Scouts is where is heart is.
This past August, Msgr. Brady packed up camp at Goshen and
returned to his home in Bethesda. But next year as summer
begins, once again the old Boy Scout will head to western
Virginia and live among the Scouts he loves.
