Baltimore Area Council Catholic Retreat Patches

The Baltimore Area Council has a long tradition of council-level religious retreats.

The Catholic Retreat appears to have started in 1962; the 1987 patch designates the 25th anniversary. The earliest patch I have seen is the undated round above labeled 1964. The undated patch may have been used for multiple years, there may be earlier patches I have no images of, or the 1962 and 1963 retreats could have used neckerchiefs, slides, or some other non-patch alternative.

The large patches from the late 1960s through 1974 feature the coat of arms of Baltimore Archbishop Lawrence Cardinal Shehan. Some of these were issued on neckerchiefs; I am not sure what distinguished these from the regular retreat patches.

The segment from 1985 went around the Baltimore Area Council activity patch from that year (with the BSA 75th Anniversary logo). I believe there was a separate Catholic Retreat patch issued, but I do not have an image of it.

The 1992 Catholic Retreat patch indicates the 30th Retreat, and the 1993 patch indicates the 29th Retreat. These are inconsistent with each other and with earlier patches. If the first retreat were in 1963, then 1992 would be the thirtieth retreat; if 1993 were the twenty-ninth retreat then the first retreat would have been in 1965. I would welcome any information that would clarify the dating of the Catholic Retreat patches.

I am missing the patch and image from 1985 and 2000; I could also use scans or patches of any large neckerchief or jacket patches not shown, as well as more information on the Catholic Retreat patches since 2005.

The “Sunday Observance” patch from 2000 includes the Boy Scout, Girl Scout, and Campfire symbols. I do not know whether there was also a BAC-specific retreat patch issued that year.

My needs are highlighted above. Offers will be enthusiastically welcomed. I would also appreciate scans of or information about any patches not shown above.