ATLANTA--Boy and Girl Scouts, their Scout leaders and families gathered at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church (IHM) April 25 to receive honors and celebrate the completion of religious scouting awards.

The annual Atlanta Archdiocesan Scout Mass was celebrated by Msgr. Henry Gracz, pastor of St. James the Apostle Church, McDonough, and concelebrated by Father Fred Wendel, pastor of IHM, and Father Paul Berny, pastor of St. Joseph’s Church, Marietta. Deacon Bruce Publicover, chaplain for the Atlanta Archdiocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting, and Deacon Tom Shaver of St. Joseph’s Church assisted.

Fifty-one Boy Scouts from 12 parishes and missions received the Ad Altare Dei award, which focuses on study of the seven sacraments in the Catholic faith.

The Pope Paul VI National Unit Recognition, presented by the National Catholic Committee on Scouting to scout units for quality programming, both scouting and spiritual, was presented to Troop 75 of Transfiguration Parish, Marietta, and Troop 287 of St. Joseph’s, Marietta.

The Bishop’s Trophy, a local award presented to outstanding Boy and Girl Scout troops in the archdiocese based on scouting and religious accomplishments, was awarded to Girl Scout Troops 5036, 5042, 7023 and 305 from the Church of St. Ann, Marietta, and Boy Scout Troop 522 from St. John Neumann Church, Lilburn. The Chaplain’s Cup, also locally awarded to an outstanding troop, was given to Transfiguration Troop 75.

Several adults were also recognized for their dedication to promoting the spiritual side of scouting. In order to be considered, adults must be nominated by their peers.

The St. George Emblem, given by the National Catholic Committee on Scouting to individuals who have given outstanding service to the spiritual development of Catholic youth in the Boy Scout program, was awarded to Edward Rousselot of the Church of St. Ann.

The St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Medal, created to recognize significant contributions of people serving the spiritual needs of Campfire and Girl Scouts, was given to Sandy Boatner of St. Catherine of Siena Church, Kennesaw.

The Pelican Emblem, presented to adults promoting scouting in the Catholic Church at the parish level, was given to Father Pat Bishop, pastor of Transfiguration; Eileen Lavoie, Holy Trinity, Peachtree City; John Carpenter, St. George Church, Newnan; Margaret Kruzner, St. Joseph’s Church, Marietta; Paul Kendra, St. Francis of Assisi Church, Cartersville; James Tramonte, St. Jude the Apostle Church, Atlanta; Douglas Billings, St. John the Baptist Mission, Thomaston; Mark Bohrer and Bernard Beumer, St. Marguerite D’Youville Church, Lawrenceville, and T.J. Wells from the Atlanta Area Council on Scouting.

The Ad Altare Dei Award was given to Greg Berger, Ron Duwell, Billy Geist, Nick Kocikowski, Andrew Lavoie, John Murphy, John Powers, Eric Rodell and Adam Shoemaker of Holy Trinity Church, Peachtree City; David Faherty and Paul Sims of Mary Our Queen Mission, Peachtree Corners; Jeff Jasmin and Josef Mundt, Church of St. Ann; Daniel Alverson, Trey Alverson, Keith Caldwell, Michael Dubas, Chris Langley, Matthew Langley, John Miklas and Tim Pearce from the Church of St. Gabriel, Fayetteville; Scott Verock from St. Philip Benizi Church, Jonesboro; Max Cavanaugh, David Denney, Chris Hanley, Karl Kuhn, Kevin Kuhn, Bryan Parry and Matthew Tiffany of St. John Neumann; Tony Madore and Andrew Madore of St. Oliver Plunkett Church, Snellville; Michael Jamison, Kyle Kruzner, Brendan Shaver and David Sokol of St. Joseph’s; Steven Anderson, Christopher Barrows, Patrick Cadic and Peter Maguire of St. Lawrence Church, Lawrenceville; Stuart Brady, Thomas Burke, Justin Gilman, Chris Henry, Jonathan Henry and Ryan Joyce of St. Marguerite D’Youville Church; Thomas Collins, Orlando Lluberas, Greg Soucy, Paul Oliver and Matthew Maendler of Transfiguration; and Max Quartarone of Holy Cross Church, Atlanta.