In February Scouts celebrate the anniversary of the founding of the BSA. This celebration includes observance of Scout Sundays and Scout Sabbaths throughout the country and in the Winnebago Council to mark the tie between faith communities and Scouting. These observances note the Duty to God language in the Scout Oath and Cub Scout Promise and the Scout Law that a Scout is reverent.
Virtually all faith communities in the United States have established religious awards for young men in the Cub and Scouting program and for young women who participate in the Venturing program.
In the Catholic Church there are 4 awards for youth, as well as honorary awards for adults for promotion of Catholic Scouting. Last year Cub and Boy Scouts from the Winnebago Council earned 29 religious awards from the National Catholic Committee on Scouting. Some Cubs were able to earn both Cub religious awards during the year. A listing is included below. The Winnebago Council is entirely within the Dubuque Catholic Archdiocese and Scouters from this Council serve on an Archdiocesan Committee which includes representatives of the Hawkeye and Northeast Iowa Councils.
Boys earning religious awards should receive their award in an appropriate ceremony at their church or other worship center. Once the medal is presented, a Scout can obtain a religious award knot at the Scout Shop. The knot can be presented during a unit Court of Honor. The Scout Shop also carries a number of books for Cubs and Scouts who wish to earn a religious awards as well as guide books for adults working as counselors or coaches for this award. All books explain where completed forms and funds to pay for medals are sent, as medals are presented by the sponsoring faith community and not by the Boy Scouts of America.
Catholic Scouts earning their religious award can attend a presentation ceremony each year at St. Raphael’s Cathedral in Dubuque which includes a mass celebrated by the Archbishop or his representative. Persons interested in learning more about the Catholic Scouting Medals or serving on the Catholic Scouting Committee can contact Paula Even at [email protected].
Cub Scouts receiving the Light of Christ Medal (for Cubs in second and third grade):
Peter Miller, Greene, member of Pack 26
Benjamin Bantz, Matthew Corrigan, Jack Dugan, Finn Duggan, Harrison Kirschenmann,
Sean Radke, Logan Roman and Jullian Villarreal, all from Cedar Falls and members of
Pack 370.
Cub Scouts and Webelos receiving the Parvuli Dei Medal:
Jesse Brown, Belmond, Pack 16
Merek Sly and Jacob Weber of Jesup, Pack 95
Logan Roman of Cedar Falls, Pack 210
Zade Collins, Joshua Heine, Alex Purdy, Tyler Sigwarth, Ricky Valente, Benjamin Bantz, Matthew Corrigan, Jack Dugan, Finn Duggan and Sean Radke of Cedar Falls, Pack 370.
Joseph (J.K.) Prentice of Clermont, Pack 3053
Carson Brincks, of Ossian, Pack 3088
Matthew Koppmann and Chase Grieves, Pack 3110, Dunkerton
Boy Scouts receiving the Ad Altare Dei Medal:
Jayden Burke, Elma, Troop 64
Blake Taylor, Decorah, Troop 66.
