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