Catholic Committee on Scouting

Newsletter

Volume 7 Number 2 September 2008

Welcome New Members

The Atlanta Archdiocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting would like to welcome the

following new members to our Committee. Fr. Tim Gadziola is the new Chaplain for the

Atlanta Area Council Boy Scouts of America and Fr. Jim Mecili is the new Chaplain for the

Northwest Georgia Boy Scout Council. We would also like to extend a welcome to Lou

Ann Piantieri, the new Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia Council Representative and Girl Scout Training Chairman and Shana Estabrooks, the new Flint River Council Boy Scout Representative.

Very few Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts earn their Religious Emblems while in scouting. Even fewer go on to earn all four of them—Boy Scouts: Light of Christ, Parvuli Dei, Ad Altare Dei and Pope Pius XII; and Girl Scouts: Family of God, I Live My Faith, the Marian Award—May the First Disciple and The Spirit Alive. To earn all four of them is a monumental feat. It is the highest award Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts can earn after receiving all four of their Religious Emblems. The Pillars of Faith recognition is new having just been approved by the National Catholic Committee on Scouting at their Biennial Conference in Louisville in 2008. The program originated in the Diocese of Colorado Springs. There are two awards: the Pillars of Faith—Duty to God for Boy Scouts and the Pillars of Faith—Service to God for the Girl Scouts. The name and design of the award represent the fact that the four Religious Emblems are like pillars, supporting the Scout’s development in and appreciation of his/her Catholic faith. The Religious Emblems are the pillars not the roof. The design also includes the Church, Bible and cross, other essential elements in faith. Scouts who have earned all four Religious Emblems in previous years are also eligible to receive the Pillars of Faith award. For more information on either of these awards, please contact Mary Ellen Yeomans at 770-977-2883 or meyeomans@bellsouth.net.

The National Catholic Committee on Scouting has introduced a new patch activity program for both youth and adults called "Footsteps of American Saints". This new activity program encourages youth to learn about several different individuals who have shaped the landscape of Catholicism in America. This religious activity honors those men and women who led heroic lives of faith. Their words, deeds and devotion to prayer and the sacraments, inspire all American Catholics. In the Church calendar for the United States, some have the title of "Saint" and are venerated by the universal church, while others have the title of "Blessed" and are venerated by the local church. Some also have the title of "Venerable" and, while on their way to becoming a "Saint", may be venerated by Catholics. All of them sought to follow Jesus. The goal is to share the lives of several Saints so that

the youth may relate to what these people have done and maybe look to these individuals as role models. The program will start out with five Saints and five new ones will be added each January. The Saints with memorials will be introduced first, then Saints with optional memorials. The following Saints are available for 2008: Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Saint John Neumann, Blessed Kateri Takekwitha, Saint Peter Claver and Saint Isaac Joques. For a complete listing of all the Saints included in this program and the requirements for earning the patches, please see the National Catholic Committee’s website at www.nccs-bsa.org and go to Awards, Recognitions and Patches section. This is available to both Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of all ages.

The International Catholic Conference on Scouting, a world wide organization, offers to Boy and Girl Scouts of all levels as well as Scouters the opportunity to earn a Pin and Patch and/or Medallion Recognition. While the program has been in existence previously, the activities have either been expanded or been completely revised and new activities added. There are now four levels of activities—Cub Scout/ Brownie/Daisy Requirements (1-5 grade); Younger Boy Scout and Girl Scout Requirements (6-8 grade); Older Boy and Girl Scout/Venturing and Scouter Requirements. The ICCS provides an opportunity for its members to come together as friends in the Catholic Church. It links the Catholic Church and the Scouting Movement all over the world. It contributes to the education of young people through Scouting from the point of view of the Catholic faith. It develops and enhances the spiritual dimension of Scouting in the World Scout Movement. The Pope appoints priests to work with the ICCS as chaplains or ecclesiastical associates. This is an activity of the National Catholic Committee on Scouting’s International Committee and not a religious emblem program or award. The requirements may be also be found on the NCCS Website under Awards, Recognitions and Patches.

The Rosary Patch Series has been extended indefinitely. All four Mysteries of the Rosary (Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful and Glorious) have now been introduced. In addition to the four sets of Mysteries, there is a fifth Rosary Patch—Pray the Rosary. The requirements may be downloaded from our website www.aaccos.org or from the NCCS website www.nccs-bsa.org. Some of the questions may require some research (biblical reference), however, the purpose of earning the patch is to further your understanding of the birth, ministry, passion and resurrection of Jesus Christ in addition to learning how to pray the Rosary. Each patch is $4 and may be earned by Tigers, Brownies, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts (Juniors, Cadettes and Seniors), Boy Scouts, Venturers, and Adults. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Mary Ellen Yeomans at 770-977-2883.

The Atlanta Archdiocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting held it annual Archdiocesan Scout Recognition Mass on Saturday, May 3, 2008 at St. Paul of the Cross Catholic Church. Archbishop Donoghue was the principal celebrant. The Scout Mass honored all young people for their hard work and adults for their contributions to Catholic Scouting within the Girl Scout, Boy Scout and Camp Fire programs. The following Girl Scout was awarded her

In addition to the Marian Award, the

Seth L., Brian P., James P., Jonathan P., Ryan T. and Sean T.;

Noah G. ;

In addition to the above Religious Emblems, we recognized Scouts and Scouters with their

Adults were also recognized for their contributions to Catholic Scouting and the youth. Lisa LaPointe,

Besides individual awards and recognitions, several units in the Archdiocese were recognized for their outstanding service during the past year. The following Cub Scout Packs and Boy Scout Troops were recognized with the

outstanding participation in scouting programs during the past year but was not selected for their respective Bishop’s Trophy. The 2008 recipient was

The last award given was one that recognized the

The Archdiocese of Atlanta has instituted additional Religious Medal programs—Ave

Maria for Brownies, Regina Coeli for Juniors and St. Agnes Award for Cadettes and

Seniors. These new programs do

program because of their grade/level in scouting. Contact Mary Ellen Yeomans for more

information.

We, in the Archdiocese of Atlanta, have instituted a Girl Scout Millennium Patch program

for Girl Scouts of all ages. The requirements are posted on our website www.aaccos.org or

may be obtained from Mary Ellen Yeomans at 770-977-2883. Upon completion of the program, a request for patches should be sent to Mary Ellen Yeomans. The patches are $1 each and may be earned by all levels of Girl Scouts including adults.