Corpo Nacional de Escutas - Escutismo Católico Português

Corpo Nacional de Escutas – Escutismo Católico Português

The Corpo Nacional de Escutas – Escutismo Católico Português (CNE, National Corps of Scouts - Portuguese Catholic Scouting) is the largest Portuguese Scouting organization. The association was founded in 1923 and became a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement in 1929; at present, this membership is maintained via the Federação Escotista de Portugal. The association serves about 80,000 members of both genders.

The association is a member of the Comunidade do Escutismo Lusófono (Community of Lusophone Scouting).

Archbishop Manuel Vieira de Matos and Dr. Avelino Gonçalves founded the CNE Scouting organization in Braga, Portugal on May 27, 1923. The founders had their first contacts with Scouting in Rome, when, in 1922, they attended a parade of 20,000 Scouts, on the occasion of the International Eucharistic Congress.

In 1922, the International Eucharistic Congress took place in Rome, Italy. Taking part in it was Braga archbishop D. Manuel Vieira de Matos with Dr. Avelino Gonzalves, his secretary. The Italian Catholic Scouts served in the Congress, giving it a youthful touch. The Archbishop was so impressed that he asked his Secretary "Can't we have them here, too?"

When they returned to Braga, they gathered a group of eleven like-minded individuals to discuss the opportunity and the possibility of the creating a group of Catholic Scouts in Portugal. On May 27, 1923, the Braga local authorities approved the "Corpo de Scouts Catolicos Portugueses". The next November, the Portuguese Government ratified the movement and approved the Statutes. The Corpo Nacional de Escutas was founded, the name being changed later. Although the CNE was incorporated in the city of Braga, a year later it was given nationwide authorization. The first national meeting was held in Braga in 1925, with Manuel Vieira de Matos as General Director, and Jose Maria de Queirós e Lencastre as National Commissioner.

The CNE grew up fast and determined. CNE began publishing a newsletter in February 1925, the Flor de Lis, which became a magazine in 1945. In 1926 the first National Camp took place in Aljubarrota; and two years later, the second one took place in Cacia (near Aveiro). In 1929 the CNE sent a contingent of 26 Scouts to the third World Jamboree, having been recognized by the World Scout Bureau. Since then the CNE has not missed an international meeting.

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