Scout News Round-Up

Sandy Hook Brownie Troop 50113 bridged to Junior Girl Scouts recently with the help of Brittany Kowalski, Ellie Nikitchyuk, and Avery Tananbaum of Junior Troop 50888. Leaders Beth Tananbaum and Carol Shuman congratulated their scouts with picnic fun.

On Thursday, June 4, St Rose fourth grade Junior Troop 50477 and St Rose third grade Brownie Troop 50596 met in the St Rose Gathering Hall with their family and friends to participate in the Brownies’ “Fly-Up” to Juniors ceremony. The ceremony was a traditional Girl Scout ceremony during which Grade 3 Brownies cross over to the Girl Scout Junior level. The Grade 4 Juniors formed a bridge with their hands and homemade flowers that they had prepared especially for the celebration. Each of the Brownies walked under the bridge and exited as Juniors. The Brownies earned their “Junior Wings” and the Grade 4 Juniors earned their “Junior Aide” patch for assisting the Brownie leaders for three meetings.

Several students from St Rose School were presented with Catholic scouting awards by The Most Reverend William E. Lori, Bishop of Bridgeport, on Friday, June 12. The awards were presented at the Diocese of Bridgeport’s 2009 Catholic Scouting Awards Ceremony, which was held at St Augustine Cathedral in Bridgeport.

Stephanie Colucci from Troop 50204 was a recipient of the Mary, The First Disciple Award. Through Mary, the First Disciple, young Catholics, ages 12 to 15, who are Cadette Girl Scouts grow in appreciation of Mary and in understanding themselves. They study Mary in Scripture, beginning with Mary as a young teenager, and follow her journey as she becomes a woman and the Mother of God. The time requirement is usually over one year.

Six brownies from St Rose of Lima’s Troop 50592 received Family of God Medals: Kristen Cirone, Anna Johnston, Carolyn O’Keefe, Savannah LaFerriere, Elizabeth Paige Simms, and Lin Marie Vitarbo. Family of God is the official religious recognition program of the Roman Catholic Church for children grades second through third who are enrolled in the Girl Scouts, Camp Fire Boys and Girls, and other Catholic youth organizations. Family of God is a bilingual activity series developed to complement the catechetical efforts of the parish and families with children in the second and third grades. The program helps children discover the presence of God in their daily lives as members of their family and parish. The time requirement is three to four months.

Recipients of the I Live My Faith Medal included Diana Kirkman and Maria Ringes from St Rose of Lima’s Troop 50859, and Courtney De Meglio, Victoria Kirkman, Marina Renzi, and Katerina Ringes from St Rose of Lima’s Troop 51160. The I Live My Faith program is designed to help Girl Scouts and Camp Fire members, grades 4–6, appreciate more deeply the place that God and religion occupy in their daily life. The action-oriented activities focus on developing awareness within the individual of his/her potential as a growing person, friend, family member, citizen, and a participant in the community of faith. The time requirement is three to six months.

2009 Cub Scouts Catholic Scouting Awards

Cub Scouts Charles Asetta and Luke Sansonetti from Pack 570 received the Light of Christ Emblem. This program helps young Tiger or Wolf Cub Scouts develop a personal relationship with Jesus. With the active assistance and participation of the parents in this program, it is hoped that the Scout will come to see Jesus as a real person and his friend. The time requirement is five to ninety days.

Receiving the Parvuli Dei Emblem, “Children of God” were Zachary J.G. Hamar, Dominic Pagliaro, and Matthew St Jean, all from Pack 570. This purpose of this program, which is for Bear and Webelos Cub Scouts, is to help the boy become more aware of God’s presence in his daily life, especially within his home and community. The time requirement is 30 to 90 days.

In addition to the individual scouting awards, St Rose of Lima Catholic Church’s Pack 570 received both the Pope Paul VI Quality Unit Award and the Gold Medallion Award. The Gold Medallion is given to one outstanding Catholic Cub Scout Pack, Boy Scout Troop, and Venturing Crew in each of the 15 Episcopal Regions of the United States. It is also intended to promote the National Catholic Committee of Scouting initiative to increase Scouting units, youth members, and adult leaders. National Gold Medallion winners epitomize those units that excel at providing youth with quality programs including religious activities, religious emblems participation, outdoor activities, and special events that encompass the religious, vocational, and educational aspects of Scouting under Catholic auspices.