PLAN FOR NEXT YEAR - 2012 CATHOLIC RETREAT INFO


     Now available at the Beaver Family Service Center, the Hawk Mt. Council Catholic Scouting council strip.  Ask for it by name, price is $3.00 each.  Show your faith or purchase as a collectible, or both!

Catholic Religious Awards

There are several religious awards which youth can earn if they are registered Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts or Explorers and are of the Catholic Faith. These awards are a tremendous building block in the personal growth of every Scout or Venturer of the Catholic faith who participates in the program. Booklets are available at the Council Service Center for these awards.

Light of Christ - This emblem is awarded to Tiger Cub and Cub Scouts (through Wolf rank) for advancement in spiritual growth and religious knowledge. It is the first religious emblem available to Catholic youth involved with Scouting. The program is designed so that the boy and his parents work together on this award.

Parvuli Dei - This award recognizes Cub Scouts and Webelos Scouts for advancement in Catholic 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 Boy Scout to take his place in the world as a maturing Catholic and American. With a religious emblems counselor, the scout 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-Rite Catholic Churches. 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 a 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 Venturers 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.

For information on various religious emblems, or to become involved as a counselor or committee member within the Allentown Diocese, go to www.adccos.org.

Getting started on these programs guidelines:

• Youth members must obtain the specific booklet for their award and work with parents (Cub Scouts) or a designated counselor (Boy Scouts & Venturers). Booklets are available at your council store and adult manuals for counselors are also available for some awards.
• These awards require participants to be registered members of a Catholic parish.
• Age/grade requirements vary for each award.
• Each program sets its own guidelines as to who may serve as counselor. Some programs require clergy to serve as counselors; other programs allow parents or other family members to serve as counselors.
• Each program requires the signature of the parish Pastor.
• The Scout needs to complete the requirements and obtain the proper signatures. These emblems are not available from your local council store, and should be presented during a meaningful ceremony, preferably in the member's parish during a Mass. Presentation on Scout Sunday (first Sunday in February) is highly suggested.

Click here to learn more about the National Catholic Committee on Scouting.

For more information, please call: Mr. Randy Bjorken, CCOS-Committee Chair (610) 375-6229 - Berks/Schuylkill/Carbon Counties.