By Christina Leslie | Correspondent

Catholic Boy Scouts from around the Diocese gathered in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, March 2 for the annual Court of Honor awards ceremony. About 35 young men and their adult Scouting leaders were presented with awards by Father Michael A. Santangelo, diocesan Scouting chaplain and pastor of Epiphany Parish, Brick.

To see photo gallery on this story, click here.

Girl Scouts, who traditionally receive their awards at the ceremony, postponed their celebration to a later date. 

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 who to incorporate their Catholic faith into their daily lives. Individual and troop projects focusing on both Church and community allow the young men to earn diocesan level and national awards.

In his homily, Father Santangelo cited the Gospel passage in which Jesus exhorted Peter to tend his sheep (Jn 21:15-19), noting that Scouting helps youth better learn about their faith, and charge the young men with responsibility for it.

“Scouts have an additional expectation,” the priest, himself an Eagle Scout, stated. “You must support each other, care for others, look out for the less fortunate and take care of our resources. We are being called to something greater than ourselves.”

Father Santangelo, diocesan Scout chaplain since 1996, reminded the Scouts, their uniforms filled with emblems and badges, that Scouting and Catholicism shared the twin goals of serving and growing in faith. “These are the ideals I wish you to follow, this is what is important to me: to send you forth to be better Scouts and better Catholics,” he stated. “I call you to a higher accountability to be the people who our God has created us to be.”

Boy Scouts stepped forward to receive awards such as the “Ad Altare Dei” and “Pope Pius XII” emblems as their families angled for better photographs. An adult leader in the program was recognized for his guidance and support in faith development with the “Christ the King” award.

At the post-ceremony reception, Brandon Bennett of Holy Family Parish, Union Beach, pointed at the “Pius XII” emblem dangling from his shirt pocket and said, “I like Catholic Scouting because it expands on the faith in the Church and in God.”

James Cevasco was one of eight boys from St. Leo the Great Parish, Lincroft, awarded the “Ad Altare Dei,” or “to the altar of God” emblem at the court of honor. He reflected, “This helped me get closer to God, and as a Scout, and the program helps me to be a better person.”

All four members of the Fitzgerald family, parishioners of St. Thomas More Parish, Manalapan, are active in the diocesan Catholic Scouting program, and witnessed young Christian receive an “Ad Altare Dei” emblem at the ceremony. “A lot of things in society are separate,” noted his mother Phyllis, an assistant Girl Scout leader, “and Catholic Scouting helps you in faith and service to others.” Her husband Scott, assistant Boy Scout master of Christian’s troop, and Girl Scout daughter Kimberly nodded as the youngster noted, “This helps me with different skills, a variety of things.”

The Diocese of Trenton Catholic Committee on Scouting covers Central New Jersey, Jersey Shore, Burlington County and Monmouth County Boy Scouts of America Councils; and the Delaware-Raritan, Monmouth, South Jersey Pines and Ocean County Girl Scout Councils. The diocesan committee has also held an annual Boy Scout/Girl Scout retreat each fall.

For further information on the program, visit www.dotccs.org.