By Gretchen Keiser

Boy Scout Troop 75 from Transfiguration Parish, Marietta, and Girl Scout Troop 113 from St. Gabriel’s Mission, Fayetteville, were each awarded the Bishop’s Trophy for outstanding accomplishments this year.

The recognition was given May 2 at the annual Scouting Recognition Mass celebrated at Holy Spirit parish in Atlanta by Father Don Kenny, chancellor of the archdiocese. He was assisted by Deacon Bruce Publicover, archdiocesan Scout chaplain, and Father Philibert O’Hara, MS.

At the Mass over 20 individual Scouts, girls and boys, also received religious emblem awards they had completed recently.

Troop 75 from Transfiguration also received Pope Paul VI National Unit Recognition. The troop, which includes young men from throughout the Marietta area, some belonging to the parish, but others from other faith backgrounds, is led by Scoutmaster Jim Schornak. The Scout chaplain also serves at Transfiguration parish.

The Pope Paul VI award is given by the National Catholic Committee on Scouting and recognizes troops in which adult leaders take part in the spiritual dimension, receiving preparation themselves, and then encourage and lead Scouts in the religious emblem programs to foster their spiritual lives.

While the two troops receiving the Bishop’s Trophy differ in size – 50 to 60 Boy Scouts and Fayetteville has fewer than 10 Girl Scouts – both had high participation by Scouts in religious emblem studies and in service projects to the church and community, according to Elvira McClain, who coordinates the emblem program for the archdiocese.

The Fayetteville troop is led by Dorothy Little.

Because the Scout oath says that the young person makes a commitment “to God, country and family,” there is a longstanding tradition of programs through which Scouts earn awards for completing spiritual study.

Catholic emblems include the Light of Christ and Parvuli Dei for boys and Family of God for girls in which the young Cub Scouts and Brownies focus on discovering Jesus in their lives, their families and their church.

Ad Altare Dei, an award for Boys Scouts, follows the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church and incorporates Bible study with an in-depth look at the sacraments. The project includes interviews with married couples and priests to understand the sacraments of marriage and priestly orders.

The Pope Pius XII emblem for older Scouts incorporates more Bible study, reading and a teen examination of morals, including issues involving dating. This emblem can take one year to complete.

For girls, the emblems, in addition to Family of God, include I Live My Faith for girls in third through sixth grade, and the Marian award for cadets in seventh through ninth grade. This centers on discovering Mary as a role model and projects run parallel to the Ad Altare Dei award.

A Spirit Alive award is also given to older teenage Girls Scouts and deals with the presence of the Holy Spirit and how the Holy Spirit can influence personal decisions in morals and life decisions such as vocations and careers.

At the May 2 Mass 21 Scouts from the archdiocese received various emblems: seven St. John Neumann Scouts received Light of Christ emblems and three from the Lilburn parish received Parvuli Dei emblems; six Scouts from All Saints parish, Dunwoody, received Parvuli Dei emblems; and five St. Ann’s parishioners in Marietta received Ad Altare Dei awards.

In addition, Pelican emblems were given to adults promoting Scouting in the Catholic Church on the parish level: Ed Roussolot and Father Philibert O’Hara, MS, from St. Ann’s, Marietta; Susan Shaner from St. George, Newnan; Mrs. Bobby Moore and Leo Schiltgen from St. Neumann, Lilburn; and Deacon Publicover from Transfiguration.