ROSWELL—Chartered at Queen of Angels School, 51 Cub Scouts from Pack 1134 were recently awarded religious emblems by the Atlanta Archdiocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting.

Pack 1134, which has 69 boys participating, celebrated this achievement at a special Scout Mass held at St. Peter Chanel Church, Roswell, in late February. During the Mass, Scouts, leaders and parents served as greeters, ushers, altar servers, eucharistic ministers and lectors. The AACCS presented the boys with 39 “Light of Christ” medals, 11 “Parvuli Dei” medals and one “God and Country” medal. A reception was held after the Feb. 25 Mass to honor the boys.

The “Light of Christ” program is the first of five religious emblems a Scout can earn and is designed to help young boys develop a personal relationship with Jesus. Parents must actively participate and assist their sons as they strive to complete the requirements outlined in an activity book. With parents’ active assistance in this program, it is hoped that the boys will come to see Jesus as a real person and friend.

The “Parvuli Dei” program is similar to the “Light of Christ” program in that parents must actively participate and act as advisors to their sons as they complete activities outlined in an activity book. The program is designed to help young boys explore a wide range of activities in order to discover the presence of God in their daily lives as members of their families and parishes. They are also encouraged to develop a good, positive self-image through the contributions they can make to the group or community.

The “God and Country” emblem is the religious emblem presented to those in Protestant denominations. One Scout in Pack 1134, who is non-Catholic, received the emblem, which also requires parental support and a completion of numerous activities.

Presentation of the emblems was made through the authority of Archbishop John F. Donoghue and the archdiocesan Scout chaplain. Father Frank McNamee, pastor of St. Peter Chanel, had an active role in the presentation and also held a required parish priest interview with most of the boys a month prior to the presentation, completing the final step of the process.

Annually Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts of America participate in a “Scout Sunday” celebration in February. This is a specific day set aside for Scouts to reflect on their “duty to God” and remember that a “Scout is reverent.” The boys are encouraged to participate in some special way in the service of their faith.