Pope Francis highlighted the synergy between scouting and the Catholic faith in his apostolic exhortation Christus Vivit when he wrote, “Nature holds a special attraction for many adolescents and young people… Such is the case with the Scouting movement… In the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi, these experiences can be a real initiation into the school of universal fraternity and contemplative prayer.”

The Office for Youth & Young Adult Ministry of the Archdiocese of Newark supports Catholic Scouting for both Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. The Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting provides resources, booklets, and Catholic Emblems & Recognition for Catholic adults and youth.

On June 9, the Office for Youth and Young Adult Ministry held its annual ceremony honoring scouts’ dedication to their faith at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, underscoring the Church’s ongoing commitment to integrating scouting with Catholic faith formation through religious recognitions.

Over 160 individuals were recognized at the award ceremony, including 92 Boy Scouts, 62 Girl Scouts, and eight adults. Bishop Elias R. Lorenzo, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Newark, celebrated the Mass.

Scouting and Catholicism “intersect quite a lot”

Scout programs offer opportunities for youth ministers and Church leaders to impart the Gospel of Jesus Christ to youth, providing an avenue for spiritual growth and development among young people, according to Deacon Ed Stoker, a longtime Scoutmaster, and deacon at Our Lady of Mercy Church in Park Ridge.

Stoker said that he believes that Scouting and Catholicism “intersect quite a lot.”

Stoker volunteers as a member of the Catholic Committee on Scouting for the Archdiocese of Newark, supporting Scouts in their pursuit of religious emblems. He is also the Chartered Organizational Representative with Cub Scout Pack 345 at Our Lady of Mercy Park Ridge and the Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 334 in Montvale. Additionally, he is a proud father of a Boy Scout.

Stoker said that he encourages Scouts to look for connections between the lessons they learn through Scouting and the tenets of the Catholic faith. “We look at the Scout Law and Promise, and the Ten Commandments, and draw connections. We also ask the Scouts to draw connections between Catholic faith symbols and the symbols they see in their Boy Scout uniforms.”

It was through his connections to Catholic Scouting and his commitment to integrating faith formation with Scouting that he said he received his calling to serve as a deacon.

“A better world is built through both faith and Scouting,” he said. “If you stay true to those ideals, you can face most problems and you learn and grow.”

Scouts live out faith through service

Emilie Schoenfield, a Girl Scout leader from St. Michael School in Cranford, also said that her troop’s Scouting experience is enhanced by incorporating faith into their activities.

“We can celebrate their accomplishments not only as students, friends, and Scouts but also as growing Catholics,” she said. She noted that the girls discuss new sacraments they have received, learn about Saints, and reflect on how their lives echo God’s Word and the Girl Scout Promise and Law.

Schoenfield said that the troop members’ Catholic faith is also reflected in the service projects and community outreach they do as Girl Scouts such as providing fleece blankets for the Linus Project, knitting scarves for the Loops of Love Ministry at St. Michael, supporting local food and clothing collections, and distributing storybooks to foster children.

“The simple and wonderful acts of creating handmade cards or art projects for [others] teaches our Scouts to give back. They use their talents to love and support others and to follow in Jesus’s teachings,” Schoenfield said.

Scouts receive religious recognition for faith and service

On June 9th, “Scout Sunday,” the Archdiocese of Newark awarded religious recognitions to deserving scouts from across Bergen, Hudson, Essex, and Union counties. The recognitions are bestowed by the Archdiocese on behalf of the National Catholic Committee on Scouting.

Read: Boy Scouts of America rebranding in 2025 not expected to impact Catholic scouts

The archdiocese honored Boy Scouts with eight religious recognitions and one patch, including the Light of Christ Recognition, Parvuli Dei Recognition, Ad Altare Dei Recognition, Light Is Life Recognition, Pope Pius XII Recognition, International Awareness Award, Bishop Bayley Award, Rosary Patch Series, and also The Order of the Sword of St. George.

Girl Scouts were honored with fivereligious recognitions and one patch, including the God Is Love Recognition, the Family of God Recognition, the I Live My Faith Recognition, the Mary, First Disciple Recognition, the Missio Recognition, and also for earning the American Saint Patch Series – St. Faustina Kowalska.

Adults were also recognized with three awards: the Adult International Awareness Award, the Bronze Pelican Recognition, and the Archbishop’s Scouter Award.

Individual troops, packs, and ships were also eligible to receive religious recognitions, and this year three units were recognized for two awards: the Pope Paul VI National Catholic Quality Unit Recognition and the Pope John XXIII Unit Recognition.

The 2024 Scouting Recognition Ceremony awardees are listed below.

Girl Scout Religious Recognitions

God is Love Recognition

Girl Scouts achieve the God is Love Recognition through their participation in the God is Love Catholic religious recognition program. This program guides them in exploring and also understanding the belief that God has created, nurtures, and loves every individual.

• Emersyn Cesaro, Troop 40175
• Genevieve Charles, Troop 40175
• Giovaninna Libitz, Troop 40175
• Ana Paschal, Troop 40175
• Briella Pedersen, Troop 40175
• Ava Pugliese, Troop 40175

Family of God Recognition

Family of God serves as a religious recognition initiative tailored for Catholic Girl Scouts in grades 2–3. Moreover, it aims to deepen children’s comprehension of God’s role and presence in their daily lives.

• Emily Briscoe, Troop 8146
• Melanie Briscoe, Troop 8146
• Vivian Dargan, Troop 8146
• Claudia Villani, Troop 8146
• Emilia Zazzera, Troop 8146
• Siena Zazzera, Troop 8146
• Evelyn O’Boyle, Troop 98258
• Sofia Picazo, Troop 98258
• Maya Rodriguez , Troop 98258
• Calista DeNicola, Troop 98258
• Skylar Fierro, Troop 98258
• Isabella Ista, Troop 98258
• Elena Casey, Troop 40175
• Annabelle Fabien, Troop 40175
• Emilia Gonzalez, Troop 40175
• Margaret Olden, Troop 40175
• Nicole Pal, Troop 40175

I Live My Faith Recognition

In the I Live My Faith program,4th and 5th grade Girl Scouts contemplate core Catholic beliefs, not only exploring the significance of Sacraments in their faith celebrations but also examining the role of prayer in their daily lives.

• Emily Grace Cannon, Troop 40098
• Anele Marie Crum, Troop 40098
• Carla Rose Risko, Troop 40098
• Grace Olivia Santos, Troop 40098
• Maeve Bray Schoenfeld, Troop 40098
• Nora Grace Widdows, Troop 40098
• Amelia Manata, Troop 41415
• Lucy Merlo, Troop 41415
• Lily Mooney, Troop 41415
• Skylar Moreira, Troop 41415
• Adalynn Olden, Troop 41415

Mary, First Disciple Recognition

Mary, the First Disciple is designed for young Catholics in grades 6–8 and the adults guiding them. The program focuses on portraying Mary as a symbol of spiritual guidance and receptiveness, inspiring participants to embrace her virtues and magnify the greatness of the Lord. Through diverse activities like interviews, role-playing, community service, reflective inquiries, and prayer, participants engage in self-discovery and deepen their understanding of faith.

• Brielle Battaglia, Troop 6880
• Jamie Barka, Troop 97200
• Gianna Capazzi, Troop 97200
• Angelina DeZuzio, Troop 97200
• Samanta Kyritz, Troop 97200
• Annalise Loaiza, Troop 97200
• Nannina Santomauro, Troop 97200
• Lily Viger, Troop 97200
• Jenieva Formaran, Troop 97240
• Alexis Galfo, Troop 97240
• Sydney Khin, Troop 97240
• Leah Lemanowicz, Troop 97240
• Gianna Martinez, Troop 97240
• Sabrina Pansini, Troop 97240
• Grace Saoud, Troop 97240

Missio Recognition

The Missio Recognition caters to high school students in grades 11-12, encouraging them to delve into discipleship and also to examine their religious identities.

• Brianna Petrella
• Marley Madureira
• Maria Rizzi

American Saint Patch Series – St. Faustina Kowalska

The Modern Saint Series celebrates impactful Catholic figures from the 20th and 21st centuries. Through various activities, it aims to present their lives as role models for young people.

• Emily Grace Cannon, Troop 98258
• Anele Marie Crum, Troop 98258
• Annabella Currenti, Troop 98258
• Jaclyn Daniels, Troop 98258
• Calista DeNicola, Troop 98258
• Skylar Feirro, Troop 98258
• Ariana Gago, Troop 98258
• Isabella Ista, Troop 98258
• Carla Rose Risko, Troop 98258
• Alannah Rowe, Troop 98258
• Grace Santos, Troop 98258
• Maeve Bray Schoenfeld, Troop 98258
• Maggie Schwartz, Troop 98258
• Hailey Solano, Troop 98258
• Lyla Widdows, Troop 98258
• Nora Grace Widdows, Troop 98258

Boy Scout Religious Recognitions

Light of Christ RecognitionThe Light of Christ emblem program aims to guide Cub Scouts in forming a personal connection with Jesus. Through active involvement and support from parents, the program endeavors to help Cub Scouts perceive Jesus as a genuine individual and companion.

• Jacob Blanco, Pack 139
• Michael Guarino, Pack 139
• Leonardo Emmolo, Pack 228
• Carsten Jakob Martini, Pack 146
• EmmaJean Levchak, Pack 305
• Scarlet Inacio, Pack 305
• Marco Molinari, Pack 360

Parvuli Dei Recognition

Awarded to Cub Scouts and Webelos, the Parvuli Dei award fosters a heightened awareness of God’s presence in the scout’s everyday experiences, particularly within their home and community.

• Alejandro Moreno, Pack 45
• Sebastian Moreno, Pack 45
• Isaiah Blanco, Pack 139
• Charlie Castillo, Pack 139
• Christian Domo, Pack 139
• Sebastian Garcia, Pack 139
• Dominick Jimenez Valera, Pack 139
• Eduardo Mendoza, Pack 139
• James Paes, Pack 139
• Stephen Levchak, Pack 305
• Viktor Rosas, Pack 305

Ad Altare Dei Recognition

One of Scouting’s oldest religious distinctions, the Ad Altare Dei award initially honored altar servers. Today, this program additionally aids Roman Catholic Scouts in nurturing a comprehensive Christian ethos within their faith community.

• Christopher Mosca, Troop 138
• Jake Viger, Troop 138
• Luke Viger, Troop 138
• Gyllian Colandrea-Connors, Troop 138
• Aubrey Desire, Troop 138
• Mariela Moreno, Troop 138
• Gabriel Santomauro, Troop 205
• Conan Yoon, Troop 205
• Isaida Velez, Troop 38
• Sofia Velez, Troop 38
• Jennifer McCarthy, Troop 99
• Daniela Rosales, Troop 99
• Fatima Rosales, Troop 99
• Audrey Velez, Troop 99
• Colin Kimball, Troop 75
• Christopher Onofri, Troop 75
• James Colangelo, Troop 80
• Jacob Kelly, Troop 80
• Ethan Santos, Troop 80
• Matthew Surmay, Troop 80

Light is Life Recognition

The Light is Life emblem program aims to assist Scouts from Eastern Catholic Rites in cultivating a holistic Christian lifestyle within their faith community. It acknowledges and embraces the cultural and ritual diversity present across the different Eastern Rite Catholic Churches.

• Clover Demas, Ship 228
• Lora Panepinto, Ship 228

Pope Pius XII Recognition

The Pope Pius XII emblem program aims to guide Scouts in discerning vocations (single, married, religious, ordained) and understanding various ministries within the Church as divine callings. This involves youth-led dialogues on contemporary challenges confronting both the Church and society, typically integrated into a Pope Pius XII retreat or day of reflection.

• Justin Baker, Troop 108
• Colin Daly, Troop 184
• Jordan Zapotosky, Troop 184
• Victor Cielepak, Troop 213
• Jacob Ferrer, Troop 213
• John Gawel, Troop 213
• Jeremy Niedbala, Troop 213
• Eduardo Tovar, Troop 213
• Edward Stoker, Troop 334
• Fiona Greaney, Ship 1908
• Clare Facchini, Troop 107G
• Jayden Altamura, Troop 146
• Colin Jette, Troop 146
• Michael McNamara, Troop 146
• Oliver Buenafe, Troop 222
• Andrei Delos Santos, Troop 222
• Andrew Demetrick, Troop 73
• Xavier Giangrante, Troop 73
• Charles Gosda, Troop 73
• Gideon Minieri, Troop 73
• Peter Slingerland, Troop 73

International Awareness Award

Participants earn the award by meeting together as friends in the Catholic Church and engaging in an activity that links the Catholic Church and the Scouting Movement/

• Jamine Paes, Pack 139

Bishop Bailey Award

Non-Catholic Units are honored with this award in recognition of their involvement in the Religious Emblems program designed for Catholic Scouts.

• Edward Stoker, Troop 334
• Lora Panepinto, Ship 228

Rosary Patch Series

The Rosary Series is dedicated to exploring the Mysteries of the Holy Rosary and guiding participants in the practice of praying the Rosary. It comprises five distinct activities: Praying the Rosary, delving into the Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful, and Glorious Mysteries. Completion of each activity earns participants a patch and a chance to deepen their understanding of their faith.

• Joyful Mysteries:
  • Jacob Blanco, Pack 139
  • Michael Guarino, Pack 139
  • Leonardo Hernandez, Pack 139
  • Nikolas Londono, Pack 139
  • Eduardo Mendoza, Pack 139
  • Veronica Mendoza, Pack 139
  • James Paes, Pack 139
  • Jonathan Paes, Pack 139
  • Jasmine Paes, Pack 139
• Luminous Mysteries:
  • Michael Guarino, Pack 139
  • Leonardo Hernandez, Pack 139
  • Nikolas Londono, Pack 139
  • Eduardo Mendoza, Pack 139
  • Veronica Mendoza, Pack 139
  • James Paes, Pack 139
  • Jonathan Paes, Pack 139
  • Jasmine Paes, Pack 139
• Pray the Rosary:
  • Jasmine Paes, Pack 139
  • Eduardo Mendoza, Pack 139
• Sorrowful Mysteries:
  • Isiah Blanco, Pack 139
  • Nikolas Londono, Pack 139
  • Eduardo Mendoza, Pack 139
• Glorious Mysteries:
  • Karen Jimenez, Pack 139

The Order of the Sword of St. George

The Order of the Sword of St. George, established by the Archdiocese of Newark Catholic Committee on Scouting, honors the Patron Saint of Scouting, St. George, through a unique quest-based program. Participants engage in a variety of spiritual and charitable activities, including prayers, sacraments, acts of mercy, and also retreats.

• Leo Burnett, Troop 146

Unit Awards

Pope Paul VI National Catholic Quality Unit Recognition

The Diocesan/Eparchial Catholic Committees on Scouting bestow this award upon units showcasing excellence in key areas: adult training, unit service, religious emblems, religious activities, and vocational opportunities.

• Troop 99, Our Lady of Sorrows Church, South Orange
• Troop 73, Holy Trinity Parish, Westfield

Pope John XXIII Unit Recognition

The Pope John XXIII Unit Recognition can be earned by Cub Packs, Boy Scout Troops, Varsity Teams, Venture Crews, and Explorer Posts sponsored by non-Catholic organizations with participating Catholic Youth.

• Ship 1908, Friends of the Rising Phoenix, Union City

Adult Recognitions

Adult International Awareness Award

This award is extended to any adults who have demonstrated a deep understanding of Scouting within the Catholic Church on a global scale.

• Agata Paes, Pack 139
• Orest Hrycak, Troop 75
• Joseph Shatynski, Troop 173

Bronze Pelican Recognition

The Bronze Pelican Award honors adults who have contributed to the spiritual growth of youth in Scouting.

• Anne Fromtling, Troop 73
• Robert Fromtling, Troop 73
• Robert Lang, Troop 73

Archbishop’s Scouter Award

This award may be given to any adult involved in the Scouting program under Catholic sponsorship, as well as those who have made notable contributions to Scouting within the Religious Emblems program of the Catholic Church at the Archdiocesan level.

• Dr. Noel E Guzman, Ship 1908
• Lois A. Leggiero, Ship 1908