By Christina Leslie | Correspondent
Catholic Boy and Girl Scouts from around the Diocese were recognized for their faith and community service March 5 during the annual Court of Honor awards ceremony in Epiphany Parish, Brick. Some three dozen youth and their adult Scouting leaders were presented with awards by pastor and diocesan Scouting chaplain Father Michael A. Santangelo.
The religious awards program, instituted by the National Catholic Committees on Scouting more than three decades ago, recognizes the efforts of Scouts ages six and older who incorporate their Catholic faith into their daily lives. Individual and troop projects focusing on both Church and community allow the youngsters to earn diocesan level and national awards.
Father Santangelo blessed and presented the Scouting emblems, then, as one, the young Scouts rededicated themselves to the Virgin Mary, patroness of the Catholic Scouting Program, with the words, “Under your special protection, at every moment, may we be like you in thought, word and action. Help us to keep this promise to do our duty to God and our country, to help other people at all times and to obey the Scout Law, so that we may always deserve to be called your children.”
Scouting Awards
Girl Scout Awards
Spirit Alive Medal:
Intended for Girl Scouts in senior high school, this program looks at the movement of the Holy Spirit within their lives and calls for a greater participation in the ministry of the Church.
St. Gregory the Great Parish, Hamilton Square: Abigail Hoeffner, Kate Kisselman, Catherine Rose McKenna
Boy Scout Awards
Ad Altare Dei Emblem: (To the Altar of God):
This program, organized in chapters based on the seven Sacraments, enables Catholic Scouts to develop a fully Christian way of life in the faith community, and understands what it means to be a follower and a disciple of Christ.
Holy Family Parish, Hazlet: Anthony Spinelli
St. Ann Parish, Keansburg: Eric Gibney, Rian McCusker
St. Catherine Parish, Middletown: Aidan Hill
St. Dorothea Parish, Eatontown: Jason Bastelli
St. Gabriel Parish, Marlboro: Antonio Napolitano, Robert Wilbur
St. Rose of Lima Parish, Freehold: Vincent Caprio, Robert Lombardi, JT Silver, Nicholas Stevens
St. Thomas More, Manalapan: Andrew Ballarino, Daniel Dmello, Patrick Kimberlin, Joseph Lezamiz, Justin Scharaldi
St. Barnabas Parish, Bayville: Richard Brown, Steven Greiss, Joshua Talian
St. Joseph Parish, Toms River: Travis Austin, Matthew Hirtes, Mason Hopson, Brian Kerwin, Matthew Pizzo, Joseph Ruggiero, William Schwester
St. Pius X Parish, Forked River: Brandon Lombardo
St. Gregory the Great Parish, Hamilton Square: Alexander Yasko
St. Raphael-Holy Angels Parish, Hamilton: Aidan Wilson, Luke Wilson
Pope Pius XII Emblem:
This program explores value and validity of different life choices (single, married, religious, ordained) and ministries within the Church as calls from God.
St. Dominic Parish, Brick: Bryan Romanow
St. Tarcisius Award:
This award aims to make the Church more important and relevant to young adults through the intercession of St. Tarcisius, the young adult patron saint of first communicants.
St. Barnabas Parish, Bayville: Joshua Barrow, Alexander Cammarato, Christopher Caravano, Thomas Donachy, Noah Lipschutz, Griffin Petry.
Christ the King Emblem:
Unique to the Diocese of Trenton, this award is a council-level recognition of a leader’s outstanding contribution to the spiritual development of Catholic youth.
St. Gregory the Great Parish, Hamilton Square: Marilyn Yasko