Youth Honored for Dedication To Scouting
Religious Emblems Program
 

Young people from around the Diocese gathered recently for a Mass at St. Peter’s Cathedral and to be recognized for their dedication to the Scouting Religious Emblems Program.

Auxiliary Bishop John M. Dougherty celebrated the liturgy and commended the honorees for completing various programs in Catholic Scouting.

He told the young people that by following the teachings and example of Christ, they could expect to suffer ridicule and even persecution – just as Jesus forewarned.

“But as Scouts, by the effort you are making to be good in this area, you give assurance of your determination to be very faithful to Our Lord throughout your life, no matter what it costs,” Bishop Dougherty said.

Boys of confirmation age or older were recognized for their work on the Ad Altare Dei (To the Altar of God) program. This award involves intensive study and research of the seven sacraments and the significance and symbolism surrounding each. High school aged young men were awarded the medal for the culmination of their work on the Pope Pius XII emblem. The students were asked to look deep within their hearts to find their vocation in life and their responsibilities as adult Catholics.

Also awarded was the I Live My Faith medal, open to both male and female Catholic scouts, focusing on what young people can do to make their Catholic faith visible in their everyday lives. Whether in school, community, or home, these teachings are to be carried out and exemplified by the recipient of the medal.

The award centered on Mary, the First Disciple is given to Scouts who undertake an extensive study of Mary’s life and how we should be more like her in our response to God.

As with any youth program, there must be adults involved in Scouting and the dedication of the scout leaders does not go unrecognized. An honor was presented to an adult for sharing time and talents in the field of Scouting. The St. George Emblem is nationally recognized and is the highest honor bestowed upon a person for many years of service to the Boy Scouts of America.

In order to receive one of these tributes, the adult must embody not only the qualities of a scout, but the lifestyle, practices and knowledge of an active Catholic. Only after nomination and thorough review is an adult presented with this honor.

The following young people and adults were recognized for their work in the Catholic Religious Emblems Programs for Scouting:
 

AD ALTARE DEI: Stephen Bath, St. Joseph, Wyoming; John Paul Bath, St. Joseph, Wyoming; Craig Burns, St. Ann, Shohola; Jimmy Caffrey, St. Therese, Shavertown; Peter Carney, St. Matthew, East Stroudsburg; Shane Connors, Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace, Hawley; Jesse Corcoran, St. Ann, Shohola; Matthew Donnelly, St. Ann, Shohola; Rudolph Drasler, Holy Rosary, Scranton; Wesley Fenstermaker, St. Catherine of Siena, Moscow; Kyle Gaffney, St. Rocco, Pittston; Patrick Garvey, St. Eulalia, Elmhurst; Philip Gilmartin, St. Catherine of Siena, Moscow; Joseph Gulston, St. Matthew, East Stroudsburg; Brian Hazen, St. Anthony of Padua, Yulan, N.Y.; Joseph Ingaglio, St. Thomas More, Lake Ariel; Casey McAndrew, St. Therese, Shavertown; Timothy Merkel, St. Mary of the Assumption, Scranton; J. P. Myers, Holy Rosary, Scranton; Jonathan Reed, St. Thomas More, Lake Ariel; Shawn Roby, St. Ann, Shohola; Daniel Sensi, Holy Name of Jesus, Scranton; Matthew Todaro, St. Catherine of Siena, Moscow; John Villandre, St. Matthew, East Stroudsburg; Mark Yamialkowski, St. Mary, Waymart; Peter Zabiegala, St. Mary of the Assumption, Scranton; Patrick Zuranski, St. Michael, Scranton. 

POPE PIUS XII: Amber Gallagher, Our Lady Queen of Peace, Brodheadsville; Joseph Gallagher, Our Lady Queen of Peace, Brodheadsville; Michael Gulston, St. Matthew, East Stroudsburg; Eric Jacobs, Sacred Heart-St. John, Wilkes-Barre; Gregory Krautkremer, St. Matthew, East Stroudsburg; Gibran Mora, Immaculate Conception, Scranton; Anthony Panaway, St. Maria Goretti, Laflin; Stephanie Raia, Our Lady Queen of Peace, Brodheadsville; Ryan Senholzi, Our Lady of Victory, Tannersville; Matthew Sipsky, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Lake Silkworth; Fred Sivulich, St. Stanislaus, Holy Trinity, Nanticoke; Rebecca Stevens, St. Luke, Stroudsburg; Chris Twardowski, Sacred Heart of Jesus, Dupont; James Wiseburn, St. Nicholas, Pocono Summit; John Wiseburn, St. Nicholas, Pocono Summit.  

I LIVE MY FAITH: Jamie Atherton, St. Therese, Wilkes-Barre; Renee Brown, St. Jude, Mountaintop; Kelsy Donaldson, St. Patrick, White Haven; Connor Murray, St. Jude, Mountaintop; Jessica Olszyk, St. Jude, Mountaintop; Madyson Savner, St. Jude, Mountaintop. 

MARY, THE FIRST DISCIPLE: Elaina Clarke, St. Matthew, East Stroudsburg; Alexandra Gentilesco, St. Jude, Mountaintop; Caroline Jones, St. Jude, Mountaintop; Kellie Kalada, St. Jude, Mountaintop; Gregory Pirolli, St. Jude, Mountaintop; Christina Thomas, St. Jude, Mountaintop. 

ST. GEORGE EMBLEM: Jayne Harrison, St. Francis of Assisi, Blessed Sacrament, Wilkes-Barre.