Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney presided at the annual Scout Sunday Mass on Feb. 22 at Our Lady of Good Counsel (OLGC) Church in the Pompton Plains neighborhood of Pequannock to honor Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and American Heritage Girls who earned Catholic religious awards.
At the end of the Mass, Bishop Sweeney presented Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and American Heritage Girls in attendance with the various religious awards designed to help inspire and strengthen their Catholic faith.
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Among the priests concelebrating the Mass with Bishop Sweeney were Father Frank Agresti, chaplain of the diocesan Catholic Committee on Girl Scouting; Father Christopher Barkhausen, pastor of St. Francis de Sales Parish in the McAfee neighborhood of Vernon and chaplain of the diocesan Catholic Committee on Boy Scouting; and Father Benjamin Williams, pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in the Oak Ridge neighborhood of Jefferson Township and St. John Vianney Parish in the Stockholm neighborhood of Hardyston who is involved in several capacities with the Boy Scouts’ Patriots Path Council.
Several Scouts participated in the Mass.
Father Barkhausen received the Boy Scout’s St. George Emblem, an award established by the National Catholic Committee on Scouting and awarded by a Diocesan Committee. It’s the highest honor a committee can bestow upon an adult. Deanna Albert and Angela Spasevski also received the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton medal, which recognizes adult Girl Scouts who have been active with girls to complete the National and Diocesan Recognition programs for at least five years.
The diocese’s Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts have been holding a Scout Sunday Mass collectively for at least nine years. In early February, the Boy Scouts of America changed its name to Scouting America as part of its continued efforts to be more inclusive and to welcome all youth.
The Girl Scouts received the following awards:
The Family of God Program helps children of Girl Scouting discover God’s presence in their lives as family and parish members.
Recipients were Meghan Clear, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Boonton, and Anaya Franco, St. Joseph, Lincoln Park.
The I Live My Faith Program helps children of Girl Scouting appreciate God and religion more deeply in their lives and stresses the importance of helping others.
Recipients were Savannah Cardillo, Nora Hansen, Meghan Mayer, Victoria Ortega, Violet Perara, and Arianna Sabas, St. Joseph, Lincoln Park; Ciela Farnese, Savannah Inglett, Roxanne Mellen, Juliet Tamayne, and Zoe Terrero, Holy Spirit, Pequannock; and Avery Tomasheski and Rian Tomasheski, Our Lady of Consolation, Wayne
The Marian Medal Program is for Cadette Girl Scouts. It complements the work of formal religious education in their church and religious education programs. This recognition reminds them of their commitment to faith through prayer, service, and community participation.
The recipient was Olivianne Albert, Our Lady of Good Counsel, Pompton Plains, Pequannock.
The Region 3 Girl Scout Pin recognizes a Girl Scout who has demonstrated her commitment by completing at least three of the four national recognitions.
The recipient was Olivianne Albert, Our Lady of Good Counsel, Pompton Plains, Pequannock.
American Heritage Girls received the following awards:
The God and My Family Medal is for Tenderheart girls who have completed Segments 1, 2, and 3 of the God and My Family Catholic Faith Award Workbook.
The recipient was Jeanne Snyder, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Boonton.
God and My Community guides Catholic Pioneers to examine service in their community through Scripture and Church tradition. Girls learn the importance of preparing to serve through prayer and learning about people who exemplify service. Pioneers put what they have learned into practice by serving others and reflecting on their service’s impact.
The recipient was Megan Kling, St. Cecilia’s Parish, Rockaway.
Boy Scouts received the following awards:
The Light of Christ emblem program helps Cub Scouts in first and second grades develop a personal relationship with Jesus. With the parents’ participation, it is hoped that the Cub Scouts see Jesus as a real person and friend.
Recipients were Tiago Camara, Our Lady of Consolation, Wayne, and Vincenzo Farnese, St. Joseph, West Milford.
The Parvuli Dei (Children of God) emblem program helps Cub Scouts from third to fifth grade explore a wide range of activities to discover God’s presence of God in their lives as family and parish members and also develop a positive self-image through their family, pack, and community contributions.
Recipients were John (Charlie) Villa and James Villa, St. Vincent Martyr, Madison; Justin Rizza, St. Therese, Succasunna, Roxbury Township; and Benjamin Castellamare, Ryan Lokitz, Joey Mains, and Tommy Mains, Our Lady of Consolation, Wayne.
The Ad Altare Dei emblem is given to Catholic Scouts who have been registered in Boy Scouts for at least six months, have completed sixth grade, and have fulfilled the requirements in the workbook based on the seven Sacraments.
Recipients were Jack Ross, St. Patrick, Chatham; George Caponegro, St. Rose of Lima, East Hanover; Joseph Dispenziere, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Hanover; Dustin Vidiera, St. Luke, Long Valley, Washington Township; Sophie Herbes, Christ the King, New Vernon, Harding Township; Nate Hayes, St. Christopher, Parsippany; Mason DelSasso, Parker DelSasso, and Tyler Fazio, St. Mary, Pompton Lakes; Mark Zariello, Holy Spirit, Pompton Plains, Pequannock; Samantha Landis, St. Therese, Succasunna, Roxbury Township; Christopher Fryer, Peter Fryer, Tyler Savincski, Immaculate Heart of Mary, Wayne; Keanu Camara, Our Lady of Consolation, Wayne; and Connor LeRouzic, Daniel Ventura, Robert Krimmel, and John LeRouzic, Our Lady of Mercy, Whippany.
The Pope Pius XII emblem is given to high school-aged Scouts who are members of a Scout Troop or Venture Crew and have completed the five-step unit program.
Recipients were Patrick Clear, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Boonton, and Andrew Goodell, Our Lady of the Magnificat, Kinnelon.
The Pillars of Faith award is given to Scouts who have completed all four religious emblems in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts: Light of Christ, Parvuli Dei, Ad Altare Dei, and Pope Pius XII.
The recipient was Patrick Clear, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Boonton.
BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI
