Scouting for Catholic Youth

Scout Sunday and Religious Emblems

Boy Scouts

PURPOSE OF THE BSA
The Boy Scouts of America was incorporated to provide a program for community organizations that offers effective character, citizenship, and personal fitness training for youth.
Specifically, the BSA endeavors to develop American citizens who are physically, mentally, and emotionally fit; have a high degree of self-reliance as evidenced in such qualities as initiative, courage, and resourcefulness; have personal values based on religious concepts; have the desire and skills to help others; understand the principles of the American social, economic, and governmental systems; are knowledgeable about and take pride in their American heritage and understand our nation's role in the world; have a keen respect for the basic rights of all people; and are prepared to participate in and give leadership to American society.
Boy Scouting, one of four membership divisions of the BSA (the others are Cub Scouting, Exploring, and Learning for Life), is available to boys who have earned the Arrow of Light Award or have completed the fifth grade, or who are 11 through 17 years old, and subscribe to the Scout Oath and Law. The program achieves the BSA's objectives of developing character, citzenship, and personal fitness qualities among youth by focusing on a vigorous program of outdoor activities.
Currently, the Boy Scout program membership is 457,916 adult volunteers* 978,326 Boy Scouts* 51,181 troops*
*As of December 31, 1994. Includes Varsity Scouting.
AIMS AND METHODS OF THE SCOUTING PROGRAM
The Scouting program has three specific objectives, commonly referred to as the ''Aims of Scouting.'' They are character development, citzenship training, and personal fitness.
The methods by which the aims are achieved are listed below in random order to emphasize the equal importance of each.
Ideals. The ideals of Boy Scouting are spelled out in the Scout Oath, the Scout Law, the Scout motto, and the Scout slogan. The Boy Scout measures himself against these ideals and continually tries to improve. The goals are high, and, as he reaches for them, he has some control over what and who he becomes.
Patrols. The patrol method gives Boy Scouts an experience in group living and participating citizenship. It places responsibility on young shoulders and teaches boys how to accept it. The patrol method allows Scouts to interact in small groups where they can easily relate to each other. These small groups determine troop activities through their elected representatives.
Outdoor Programs. Boy Scouting is designed to take place outdoors. It is in the outdoor setting that Scouts share responsibilities and learn to live with one another. It is here that the skills and activities practiced at troop meetings come alive with purpose. Being close to nature helps Boy Scouts gain an appreciation for God's handiwork and humankind's place in it. The outdoors is the laboratory for Boy Scouts to learn ecology and practice conservation of nature's resources.
Advancement. Boy Scouting provides a series of surmountable obstacles and steps in overcoming them through the advancement method. The Boy Scout plans his advancement and progresses at his own pace as he meets each challenge. The Boy Scout is rewarded for each achievement, which helps him gain self-confidence. The steps in the advancement system help a Boy Scout grow in self-reliance and in the ability to help others.
Personal Growth. As Boy Scouts plan their activities and progress toward their goals, they experience personal growth. The Good Turn concept is a major part of the personal growth method of Boy Scouting. Boys grow as they participate in community service projects and do Good Turns for others. Probably no device is so successful in developing a basis for personal growth as the daily Good Turn. The religious emblems program also is a large part of the personal growth method. Frequent personal conferences with his Scoutmaster help each Boy Scout to determine his growth toward Scouting's aims.
Leadership Development. The Boy Scout program encourages boys to learn and practice leadership skills. Every Boy Scout has the opportunity to participate in both shared and total leadership situations. Understanding the concepts of leadership helps a boy accept the leadership role of others and guides him toward the citizenship aim of Scouting.
Uniform. The uniform makes the Boy Scout troop visible as a force for good and creates a positive youth image in the community. Boy Scouting is an action program, and wearing the uniform is an action that shows each Boy Scout's commitment to the aims and purposes of Scouting. The uniform gives the Boy Scout identity in a world brotherhood of youth who believe in the same ideals. The uniform is practical attire for Boy Scout activities and provides a way for Boy Scouts to wear the badges that show what they have accomplished.
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Local councils operate and maintain Scout camps. The National Council operates high-adventure programs at Philmont Scout Ranch, New Mexico; Northern Tier National High Adventure Programs, Minnesota and Canada; and Florida National High Adventure Sea Base.
The BSA conducts a national Scout jamboree every four years and participates in world Scout jamborees (also held at four-year intervals). Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia, was the site of the 1993 National Scout Jamboree.

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Scouting for Catholic Youth

Record
The Scouting program has been used by the Roman Catholic Church since the early days of the Boy Scouts of America. It is one of the most extensive users of the BSA program. There are more than 350,000 Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Explorers in nearly 10,000 packs, troops, and posts under Catholic auspices, and an equal number of youth members in other Scouting units. Scouting is used in about one-third of the parishes in the United States.
National Committee
The National Catholic Committee on Scouting has had the responsibility for more than fifty-five years to promote and guide cooperative contacts between the authorities of the Catholic Church and the Boy Scouts of America in the United States. The Scouting program is recognized as an integral part of the total youth ministry at the diocesan level. As such, Scouting becomes part of the parish youth ministry as units are operated by the parishes, parent-teacher organizations, Holy Name Societies, and the schools. The Knights of Columbus and other Church-related organizations also operate units.

The national committee carries out the official Plan of Organization, which was first approved in 1934 and was revised in 1989.

Each archdiocese and diocese has a Catholic committee on Scouting, and approximately 360 BSA local councils have their own committees.

Every two years, the National Catholic Committee on Scouting holds a national conference for all members of the diocesan and local Catholic committees. At this conference, new programs are introduced, planned, and developed. Ultimate approval for the new programs comes from the vote of the membership. Thus, ideas, comments, and experience from every part of the country can be heard and shared.

In addition, the national committee sponsors a weeklong training course at the Philmont Training Center each year for those diocesan personnel entrusted with the responsibilities of operating the committee.

The National Catholic Committee on Scouting also promotes and coordinates Scouting in the Eastern Catholic Church, creating new programs or modifying current ones as needed.

National Membership Initiative
The National Catholic Committee on Scouting and the BSA have launched a membership initiative for the period April 1995 through April 1997. The goal of the initiative is to bring a quality Scouting program to more Catholic youth than ever before. Emphasis is being placed on organizing more units, holding membership roundups, ensuring quality training for existing units, and securing more volunteer leaders. Dioceses are encouraged to conduct a bishop's luncheon or dinner to promote Scouting. Promotional materials - including a brochure that features endorsements from the Pope and nine United States cardinals - are available to support the initiative.
Responsibilities
Through each level of organization, subcommittees carry out the responsibilities established in the Plan of Organization, No. 16-151. These include:

Membership. Create and promote national programs that can be used by diocesan Scouting committees to further membership and the relationship between the Catholic Church and the BSA.

Training. Provide training for laypeople of the Catholic faith, training for people who serve as religious emblems counselors, and assistance in recruiting for parishes.

Religious Emblems. Promote the spiritual phase of Scouting, provide for a religious emblems program, provide a board of review to examine all candidates for religious emblems, and develop ways and means to communicate with Scouts of the Catholic faith in units of other chartered organizations in order to help them qualify for Catholic religious emblems. These religious emblems are:

  • Light of Christ. This emblem is given to Tiger Cub and Cub Scouts (through Wolf) for advancement in spiritual growth and religious knowledge. It is the first of five religious emblems available to Catholic youth involved with Scouting.
  • Parvuli Dei. This is a Christian family emblem to recognize Cub Scouts and Webelos Scouts for advancement in religious knowledge and spiritual formation. With the help of parents or guardians, the boy becomes more aware of God's presence in his daily life, especially within his home and community.
  • Ad Altare Dei. The purpose of earning the Ad Altare Dei emblem is to equip the Scout to take his place in the world as a maturing Catholic and a maturing American. With a religious emblems counselor, the boy meets requirements in eight steps covering the sacraments of initiation and the sacraments of maturity.
  • Light Is Life. This recognition is designed for Boy Scouts of the Eastern Catholic Church. The content is based on the "God With Us" series of the Eastern Christian Formation Program to prepare the Scout to be an active member of his faith community, as well as his civic community. With the help of an emblems counselor, catechist, or priest, the Scout meets requirements in five steps covering the Holy Mysteries and Eastern Christian spirituality. The Light Is Life respects the cultural and ritual differences among the various rites.
  • Pope Pius XII. Scouts of high-school age and young men and women who are Explorers are eligible for this award. The requirements cover five units: We As Christians, Today's Vocation, Awareness of Responsibility to Self and Society, Citizenship - Home and Community, and Our Response to Faith.
  • Saint George. This national recognition is presented to any adult who is working with the Scouting program under Catholic auspices; to Catholics in Scouting units not operated by the church; and to those who have made a significant contribution to Scouting in the field of Catholic relationships. It may be given to men, women, priests, religious, and non-Catholics.

Religious Activities. Promote regular and meaningful Catholic religious activities and programs for youth at the unit and diocesan levels throughout the country.

Communication. Keep Scouters informed on Scouting activities, promote the program and activities of the Catholic committee, create a better understanding of the aims and ideals of Scouting by both clergy and laity, and make known the many advantages of Scouting under Catholic auspices to the parish as part of its Catholic youth program.

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SCOUT SUNDAY

On Sunday, February 8, 1998, our parish celebrated Scout Sunday at the 8:00 a.m. Mass. During the course of the Mass, religious emblems were awarded to the following Cub Scouts:

Light of Christ Emblem

Parvuli Dei Emblem Congratulations to the following Boy Scouts who received the Ad Altare Dei Emblem from Bishop Melczek at the annual Bishop's Ceremony on Sunday, March 15, 1998: All of the Cub Scouts are parishioners at Queen of All Saints. The Boy Scouts are members of Queen of All Saints, St. Stanislaus and St. Mary, however, they all worked through the program at Queen of All Saints. The Boy Scouts are from two different troops as well: QAS Troop 876 or St. Joseph Troop 822.

It is exciting to have such a high number of Scouts working on their Religious Emblems. I credit their leaders and parents for encouraging the scouts. Most of all, however, I credit Janet Bauer for her work with the Cub Scouts as well as Janet Bauer and Agatha Rathbun for their work with the Boy Scouts. Our Scouts would not have been able to achieve their religious emblems without their help. Thanks, Janet and Agatha!

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