SCOUTING AWARDS

Eight Scouts honored at the Catholic Committee on Scouting's Religious Emblem Awards

Scouts participated in a Faith Walk in Albany, where Scouts met with Father Daniel Quinn, former pastor of the Parish of Mater Christi. (Photo provided)

The Catholic Committee on Scouting held its Religious Emblem Awards presentation earlier this year during a Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany celebrated by Bishop Mark O’Connell and Father Matthew Duclos. Father Duclos, pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Delmar, St. Matthew’s in Voor­hees­ville and St. Lucy’s/St. Bernadette’s in Altamont, also serves as chaplain for the committee.

Eight Scouts earned either the Ad Altare Dei or Pope Pius XII Medals: Mary Daly, Meghan Daly, Ryan Daly and Liam O’Neilan from Troop 2113 in Valatie received the Ad Altare Dei Medal, along with Luc Dobkowski and Hudson O’Brien from Troop 6002 in Glens Falls. Matthew Dobkowski and Ethan Trackey, also from Troop 6002, earned the Pope Pius XII Medal. Committee member Michael Harting was presented with the St. George Medal for his contributions to the committee. The committee is grateful to Bishop Mark and Father Duclos for support of their work.

In May, the committee also sponsored a Faith Walk in Albany, with Scouts and adult Scouters visiting churches and meeting with representatives from St. Sophia’s Greek Orthodox Church; Bethany Reformed Church; B’nai Reform Shalom Congregation and the Parish of Mater Christi, where Scouts met with Father Daniel Quinn, former pastor. The Faith Walk provided Scouts with an opportunity to learn about the history and mission of various religious organizations, all of which emphasize service to others — a foundational tenet of the Scouting program. 

Additionally, the Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting seeks new members to assist with promoting faith-based activities, encouraging participation in religious emblem programs and developing youth ministry through Scouting America’s “Duty to God” and “A Scout is reverent.” The committee also supports engagement with Girl Scout religious/faith programming, as well as Scouts of various faiths. 

Registration also is now open for Scouts interested in earning the Catholic Religious Emblem Awards sponsored by the Catholic Committee on Scouting. Sessions for the Ad Altare Dei and Pope Pius XII Medals will begin in late August. Programs for Eastern Catholic Churches, Protestant, Jewish and other faiths are also available, as well as programs for Cub Scouts.

For more information on new members and the Religious Emblem Awards, contact Mark Wilson at (518) 496-5130 or email [email protected] for more information.