Young people who earned approximately 230 medals and badges for completing Catholic-centered programs related to Scouting activities were honored by Bishop Earl Fernandes during the annual Scout Day with the Bishop prayer service at the New Albany Church of the Resurrection on Sunday, Jan. 26.
The bishop presented uniform patches to participants from Scouting America, Girl Scouts of America and American Heritage Girls units ranging in age from first grade to high school.
In remarks before the award presentation, the bishop noted that this is a jubilee year for the universal Church with the theme “Pilgrims of Hope.”
“You as Scouts know what hope is,” he said. “When you go on a hike, you prepare for what might happen by getting ready for any possibility. You hope you have everything covered and you know that if you do, you’ll be able to handle the situation. Some move ahead, some trail behind, but you’re moving toward the same destination.
“As Pope Francis has said, we all have our own specific roles, whether at a campout or any other activity. The important thing is to help each other and keep moving together. …
“You have earned various merit badges and you have all received a pure gift from God – the badge of the Blessed Trinity. … You have been given a birth of hope through Jesus Christ. This means at the end of life’s journey, we do not lie in dust and ashes, but one day we will be able to rise and see the face of God, if we are just.”
The bishop presented three young people with the diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting’s Red Sash of Merit for service to their troop, parish and community. Recipients were Kaylie Klear of Ada Our Lady of Lourdes Church and Scouting America Troop 50 of Marion St. Mary Church; Alex Rush of the Johnstown Church of the Ascension and Scouting America Troop 85 of Westerville St. Paul the Apostle Church; and Anne Rainer of American Heritage Girls Troop 31 and Columbus St. Patrick Church.
Patches were presented to recipients of the Light of Christ, Parvuli Dei and Ad Altare Dei awards from Scouting America; the Family of God and the Mary, the First Disciple awards from the Girl Scouts; and the God and My Family and God and My Country awards of the American Heritage Girls.
Also recognized were young people who completed uniform patch programs on the Rosary, American saints, modern saints and the National Eucharistic Revival.
Receiving the committee’s yearly honors for Catholic programs in their respective branches were Cub Pack 169 of Columbus Our Lady of Peace Church, the Bishop’s Pack; Scouting America Troop 859 of Hilliard St. Brendan the Navigator Church, the Bishop’s Troop; and Reynoldsburg St. Pius X Church, the Bishop’s Parish (for Girl Scouts or American Heritage Girls units).
Honorable mentions went to Pack 859 of St. Brendan, Pack 326 of St. Pius X and the American Heritage Girls of Columbus St. Patrick.
The Pope St. Paul VI unit recognition award from the National Catholic Committee on Scouting was presented to Pack 169 and Troop 169 of Our Lady of Peace.
The diocesan Scouting committee offers several programs in addition to those listed. More information is available at https://columbuscatholic.org/evangelization/catholic-scouting.
