Catholic Scouts receive religious emblems

Friday, Feb. 06, 2015

SALT LAKE CITY  — The Cathedral of the Madeleine was witness to the recognition that many youth and adults who are part of the Utah Boy and Girl Scouts received during the annual Scout Saturday.

On Jan. 31, family, friends and acquaintances of the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts gathered to celebrate the presentation of awards by the Most Rev. John C. Wester, Bishop of Salt Lake City, and by Nancy Reading, chairperson of the Diocesan Committee on Catholic Scouting.

The ceremony began with a color guard of Scouts, as well as the recitation of the Scouts pledge and the Pledge of Allegiance.

At the beginning of the ceremony, Bishop Wester welcomed those present and thanked the scouts for all that they do for the Church and the community.

Father James Blaine, the diocesan Scout chaplain, proclaimed the Gospel; also present at the ceremony was Father Cyriacus Onyejebu, chaplain of Hill Air Force Base.

During his comments, Bishop Wester shared a memory of his childhood.

“I am the oldest in my family. When I was little there was an occasion when my little brother was learning how to stand up, and when he did everyone was so happy and started clapping,” said Bishop Wester. “But when I saw that, I approached him and pushed him so he fell down.”

Every one shared a laugh and the scouts started paying more attention to the bishop’s words.

“This is an interesting metaphor that quite often we are pushing each other over. … This is important for us to be aware of, the ways you can push each other down. ... Today in the Gospel (John 1:35-42), Jesus came to come closer to us again. … We need to integrate Jesus in our lives,” the bishop said. “We need to have gratitude. The service to others, the care for the poor – these are characteristics that we need to have.” 

Prior to the presentation of the awards, Bishop Wester encouraged the youth to  continue their commitment to scouting and to the Catholic Church. “Keep up the good work, and God bless you,” he said. .

Reading, chairperson of the Diocesan Committee of Catholic Scouting, called each recipient forward to receive his or her award. 

Fifty-five Boy Scouts were recognized for earning one of the following emblems:  Light of Christ,   God and Family,  Faith in God,  God and Me,  Parvuli Dei or Ad Altare Dei.

The Girl Scouts, Rachel Bouley and Eleanor Bouley, were recognized with the Marian Medal Award and  the Spirit Alive Award, respectively.

Seven Scout leaders were recognized with the Bronze Pelican Emblem: Edwin Frederick, Craig Greenberg, Christopher Jensen, Tom Eugene Niederee, Louis Schoen, Patrick Schone and John Ralph Steffen.

Three Scout leaders received the St. George Emblem: Joe Bouley, Paula Crosbie and Martine Gordon.