Roswell
Archdiocesan Mass To Award Scouts For Faith
Published March 26, 2009
Five Boy Scouts and one Girl Scout will receive the highest religious recognition a scout can earn at the service. The award for the Boy Scouts is called Pillars of Faith—Duty to God and for the Girl Scouts, Pillars of Faith—Service to God.
The names of the Boy Scouts receiving the award are: Matthew James Peter Izzo, of St. John Neumann Church, Lilburn; Costel Michael Outlaw, of St. Lawrence Church, Lawrenceville; Richard Warren Parsons Jr., of St. Anna Church, Monroe; Michael Richter, of St. Oliver Plunkett Church, Snellville; and Sean Tighe, of Sacred Heart Church, Milledgeville.
The Girl Scout receiving the award is Tyler LaPointe, of St. Catherine of Siena Church, Kennesaw.
Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory will be the celebrant at the Scout Mass, which will be held at St. Peter Chanel Church, Roswell. It begins at 1 p.m. Scouts and their families are welcome to attend to celebrate with Girl Scouts receiving their Marian Award, Mary the First Disciple and The Spirit Alive and Boy Scouts receiving Ad Altare Dei and Pope Pius XII Religious Emblems.
Unit awards will also be presented along with adults being recognized for their contributions to Catholic Scouting within the Archdiocese.
Introduced nationally at the 40th Biennial Conference of the National Catholic Committee on Scouting, the Pillars of Faith award acknowledges the accomplishments of young people who have gone above and beyond in their faith journey. The Atlanta Archdiocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting last year introduced the religious award.
To be eligible for the award, Girl Scouts must complete all four religious emblems: Family of God, I Live My Faith, Marian Award and Mary the First Disciple or The Spirit Alive. Boy Scouts must complete the following emblems: Light of Christ, Parvuli Dei, Ad Altare Dei or Pope Pius XII.
The earned award represents how the four religious emblems serve as pillars supporting the scout’s appreciation of the Catholic faith. The emblems are the pillars, not the roof, as no one ever finishes growing in faith. The design also includes the church, Bible and cross, other essential elements in faith.
Young women and men who have already completed all four religious medals prior to 2008 should contact Mary Ellen Yeomans at (770) 977-2883 or meyeomans@bellsouth.net to be recognized.