PROVIDENCE – They've earned patches for camping and canoeing, cooking and crafting, but last Sunday several area Girl and Boy Scouts were recognized for their faith.
The annual Scout Sunday Mass honored young people with a variety of faith-based awards at the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul in a ceremony presided over by Bishop Thomas J. Tobin.
Bishop Tobin congratulated the award winners during his homily and added that scouting is an important part of the diocesan community. "The values of scouting and the values of the Church coincide together very nicely," he said. He also thanked the adults who make scouting possible in their parishes. Many of the priests, deacons and volunteers who work with the young scouts were honored for their service to scouting.
Four Girl Scouts received the 2008 "I Live My Faith" award, which honors active and responsible members of families, parishes, troops and communities. Danielle Attardo and Caitlin Barnabe, both from St. Joan of Arc Parish in Cumberland, as well as Jessica Dowling and North Kingstown, were this year's honorees.
Several Girl Scouts were also honored with the Marian Medal, a national award designed to provide girls with their faith and values in the context of their relationship with the Virgin Mary. Jacqueline and Jessica Desrosiers from St. Ann in Cranston, Teresa Gillheeney from St. Mark in Cranston, Ashley Lavoie from St. Vincent de Paul in Coventry, Kelsey Evans, Elizabeth Stone, and Katherine Topp from St. Francis de Sales in North Kingstown received the Marian Medal this year.
Lauren Baker from Holy Angels in Barrington and Kelly DeSisto from St. Luke in Barrington were both recipients of the 2008 Spirit Alive award. The award calls the winners to greater participation in the church's ministry.
The Boy Scouts presented the Ad Altare Dei award, which recognizes Catholic scouts who have worked to develop a fully Christian way of life. They also presented the Pope Pius XII award, which recognizes scouts who have worked in the ministries and vocation program dealing with different life choices and occupations. Thirty-seven scouts were honored with the Ad Altare Dei award and 17 received the Pope Pius XII award. For a complete list of their names as well as the adult award winners, please click here.
