Catholic Scouting

From Maureen Brown, Ad Altare Dei counselor and a Pope Pius XII facilitator - Catholic Committee on Scouting Archdiocese of Los Angeles:

Like many Scouting units, our Catholic Scouting units are struggling. We have been working hard to re-establish units, especially Cub Scout Packs.

Pastors are supportive of Catholic Scouting when the Scout units support the Catholic Scouting program:

promote the religious emblem program (all faiths);
promote the annual Scout Retreat;
promote activities such as the St. George Trek;
earn the Pope Paul VI National Catholic Quality Unit Award;
have a Scout Sunday celebration;
have a Unit Religious Emblem Coordinator;
in the Scoutmaster conference, Scoutmasters should ask Scouts how they are fulfilling their duty to God.

The Archdiocese of Los Angeles is very supportive of Catholic Scouting. They actually wrote a section on Catholic Scouting into the Administrative Handbook (didn't know there was an administrative handbook? Neither did I!)

Just like with the rest of the Scouting program, Catholic Scouting takes volunteers to make the program run. Sometimes volunteers that don't want to tackle backpacking are willing to work with religious emblems, or coordinate Scout Sunday.

We have training coming up next month. It is virtual, so you can complete the training from the comfort of your own home.

July 13, 2024 9-10am Introduction to Cub Scout religious emblems

10am-4pm AAD Counselor training

July 14, 2024 9-10am Virtual teaching safety protocols

10am-4pm Pope Pius XII facilitator training

Have those interested contact Lori Sorensen immediately (lori.sorensen@ccsala.org); required forms and fees must be submitted one week prior to the class. [No documents or fee required for Introduction to Cub Scout religious emblems, or Virtual teaching safety protocols, but RSVP is requested.]

New BSA Barriers to Abuse policy (effective 9/1/2023); two registered leaders are required to be present during an AAD or PPXII class. If the second adult is involved in the discussion at all, they must be trained.

We need more counselors and facilitators; think about becoming a counselor or a facilitator. Ask a fellow Scouter to take training and co-teach with you. You can remain involved in Scouting, and share your faith with youth.

I have been an Ad Altare Dei counselor and a Pope Pius XII facilitator for 26 years. This year will be my final year of teaching the programs in VHC, as we will be relocating in about six months. Please, we need counselors and facilitators! Two people can take the training together, and co-teach (satisfying the requirement for two registered adults). If you have taught in the past, you must recertify every three years, as well as submit all your documentation (YPT, VIRTUS, etc.)

When I leave the area in about 6 months, Verdugo Hills Council will be losing its last Ad Altare Dei Counselor and Pope Pius XII facilitator. Our council had four Scouts that earned the Pope Pius XII emblem this year. All four of these Scouts also earned the Chi Rho award, signifying they had earned all four Catholic religious emblems. No Scouts from Verdugo Hills Council earned Ad Altare Dei this year.

If Scouters take the training and start a class this Fall, I am happy to work with them until I leave.

This is a perfect way for parents to stay involved in Scouting after their Scout ages out of the program. Contact me with your questions!

Some years back, I sat on an Eagle Board of Review. The Scout had gotten the pastor's signature (Msgr. Gipson, St. James). I noticed he did not have the purple youth religious emblem knot, and I asked him why he had not earned his religious emblems. He said he did not know about them. That has motivated me to spread the word about religious emblems, and to widely advertise my classes.

Our challenge as Scouters is to Deliver the Promise; to deliver the Catholic Scouting program. Not every Scout will participate, but we make the programs available.