A Scout Is Reverent

In the Law of the Pack, the scout promises to do his best, to do his duty to God and his country. The scout helps fulfill his duty to God by practicing his faith. The BSA's religious emblem programs help to incorporate a scout's promise into his scouting experience.

At St. Louis, Pack #89 is in the unique position of having virtually every scout belonging to one faith... We are pleased that we are able to inform and encourage so many Cub Scouts and Brownies on how to earn their religious emblems.

Did you know that the Fluer De Lis used by the BSA and the St. Louis Catholic Church is a religious symbol for the Holy Trinity?

The National Catholic Committe on Scouting offers Cub Scouts the opportunity to learn more about Christ and the Church through the Light of Christ (Tigers & Wolves) and Parvuli Dei (Bears & Webelos) programs. These activities are a supplement to a scout's religious education and is not a replacement for CCE.

Each year (usually the first week in February) the Boy Scout Diocesan Chaplain, on behalf of the Archdiocese of Austin Catholic Committee on Scouting, presents the local religious emblem recipients to the Bishop. Each Boy Scout, Girl Scout, Campfire Girl, etc... is presented with a special certificate of achievement from the Bishop during a scouting dedication mass.

Prior to the Bishop's scouting regonition mass, each Parish in the Archdiocese presents special medallions to scout recipients during Scouting Week (usually in January/February).

To be recoginized by the Parish and the Archdiocese of Austin, scouts should complete their project booklets, have them endoresed, paid for, and sent to the Diocesan Chaplian before the end of the calendar year; however, if they have not been completed by then, they should continue working on the booklet for their rank and be recognized the following year...

In addition to the Church recognitions of the scouts' religious achievements, the Pack will present the scouts with the purple religious knot patch that is to be worn over the left shirt pocket. Since this is such a special achievement, this is one of the few patches earned as a scout that can transfer to the Boy Scout and Scouter uniform.

As an introduction to the above mentioned programs, the International Catholic Conference on Scouting offers the International Awareness Emblem to Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Scouters. This activity can be accomplished as an individual or as a den in a short period of time, with some preparation.

If you are interested in one of these programs, then please speak to your den leader. Also, if you are not Catholic, then please speak to your pastor about emblems for your religious denomination.

Peace be with you...