Left photo: Adults receiving awards at the annual diocesan Scout Day with the Bishop program on Sunday, Feb. 10 at New Albany Church of the Resurrection were (from left): Melissa Riederer; Mike Hall, director of the diocesan Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry; Jodi Hatherly; and Karen Waldo and children Ben and Grace, representing Ed Waldo. Deacons Frank Sullivan (right) and Chris Reis presented the awards. Recipient Nicholas LaRosa was not present. Right photo: Young people receiving the diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting’s Red Sash of Merit were Paul Fields of Columbus Our Lady of Peace Church and Elaine Smith of Columbus St. Margaret of Cortona Church, pictured with Deacon Sullivan. Recipient Genevieve Tautkus of Columbus St. Patrick Church is not pictured.                                                                      CT photos by Ken Snow 
 
Youth, adults receive religious awards at Scout Day 

By Tim Puet
Catholic Times Reporter

About 125 Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and members of Camp Fire and American Heritage Girls units sponsored by parishes throughout the diocese were recognized at the annual Scout Day with the Bishop prayer service on Sunday, Feb. 10 at the New Albany Church of the Resurrection. 

The program was conducted by Deacon Chris Reis, diocesan scout chaplain, and Deacon Frank Sullivan because of the absence of Bishop Frederick Campbell, who was unable to attend because of inclement weather. 

The event was sponsored by the diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting, which presented its Red Sash of Merit to three young people who earlier earned other Catholic scouting emblems and have demonstrated leadership, accepted responsibility and are active in their troop, community and parish. 

The honorees were Paul Fields of Boy Scout Troop 169, sponsored by Columbus Our Lady of Peace Church, Elaine Smith of Columbus St. Margaret of Cortona Church and of Ohio Valley District Venture Crew 33 and Girl Scout Troop 2219, and Genevieve Tautkus of American Heritage Girls Troop 33, a member of Columbus St. Patrick Church.

The committee’s Bronze Pelican award was presented to three individuals who have performed exceptional service to scouting through their contributions to the spiritual development of Catholic youth.

This year’s honorees were Jodi Hatherly of Columbus St. Peter Church, Nicholas LaRosa of Columbus St. Patrick Church and Ed Waldo of Marion St. Mary Church.

Receiving the St. George Emblem, presented by the National Catholic Committee on Scouting for continuing support of its programs, was Mike Hall, director of the diocesan Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, which oversees Catholic scouting programs in the Diocese of Columbus.

Melissa Riederer of Columbus St. Joseph Cathedral was awarded the St. Anne Medal, the highest national recognition for adults who serve Catholic young people through scouting programs.  

Boy Scout Troop 50 of Marion St. Mary Church was honored as the Bishop’s Troop for combining active participation in religious activities with service to the community and to scouting. Also honored were Cub Scout Pack 859 of Hilliard St. Brendan the Navigator Church as the Bishop’s Pack for the fifth consecutive year, and Reynoldsburg St. Pius X Church as the Bishop’s Parish for its Girl Scout programs.   
   
The deacons presented “Scout Day” patches to participants in various Catholic scouting activities. These included the Light of Christ and Parvuli Dei programs for Cub Scouts; the Ad Altare Dei program for boys and girls; the God Is Love, Family of God, I Live My Faith and Mary, the First Disciple programs for Girl Scouts and Camp Fire members and American Heritage Girls; and the Pope Pius XII program for young men and women. All of these emblem programs are sanctioned by the national scouting organizations.

The committee also sponsors the annual Catholic Scout Camporee, which takes place in May. In addition, it conducts the locally based St. Tarcisius and International Awareness programs, which examine various aspects of the faith each year, and it offers uniform patches for completion of activities related to the rosary, Marian feasts, Catholic practices and traditions, women in Scripture, and men and women who are saints or have been declared “blessed” or “venerable” by the church and have connections with the Americas. More than 140 patches were awarded this year in the diocese.

More information on Catholic scouting programs is available at the committee’s website, www.cdeducation.org/oym/dccs.