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Home > How We Serve > Youth Ministry > Catholic Scouting > Overview

Catholic Scouting

Overview

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Diocese of Raleigh Catholic Committee on Scouting (RCCOS)

On this page:

Organization

Chaplain: Fr. Scott McCue
Email: Frscottmccue@aol.com
Phone: 919-834-1625 Ext. 219

Chairman: Mr. Frank Jackson
Email: frank.jackson@verizonbusiness.com
Phone: 919-303-2399

Vice-Chair: Ms. Stacey Larkins
Email: thelarkins6@yahoo.com

Recording Secretary: Ms. Angela Frasca
Email: amfrasca@bellsouth.net

Religious Emblems Chair: Mr. Jim Cichetti
Email: jimcichetti@hotmail.com
Phone: (919) 782-3834

Communications Chair: Mrs. Deb Wiggins
Email: deborah.wiggins@us.army.mil

Treasurer: Mr. Gary Fornecker
Email: fbo@nc.rr.com

Cub Program Chair: Mr. Frank Castillo
Email: tfcastillo@gmail.com

Boy Scout Council Representatives

Occoneechee Council - Mr. Jim Cichetti, email: jimcichetti@hotmail.com
Tuscarora Council - Mr. Gary Fornecker, email: fbo@mindspring.com
East Carolina Council - Vacant
Cape Fear Council - Mr. Bob Kain, email: kain3656@bellsouth.net
Tidewater Council - Mr. Rusty Waldrop, email: r.waldrop@mchsi.com

Membership

The Raleigh Diocese CCOS is open to all Catholic Scouters working with Catholic and non-Catholic sponsored Scouting Units in the Diocese. This includes Cub Pack, Webelos, Boy Scout Troops, and Venture Crews.

Objectives and Mission

Foster Scouting as an integral part of Total Youth Ministry in the Raleigh Diocese
Assist Catholic Parishes and other Catholic Organization such as the Knights of Columbus in the process of sponsoring and Chartering new Scouting Units
Promote the Religious Emblems Program for Scouts of all faiths
Provide training and approval for Catholic Religious Emblems Counselors
Convene Boards of Reviews for Ad Altare Dei and Pope Pious XII Emblem candidates
Process Emblems applications
Provide opportunities for Catholic Scouts to come together at an annual retreat and camporee
Promote Scout Sunday Observances
Provide opportunities for fellowship and service among Catholic Scouters in the Diocese
Promote recognition of Catholic adult Scouters who devote their time and talents to Scouting in Eastern NC

Religious Emblems for Scouts

Light of Christ:
A registered Tiger or Wolf Cub Scout of Catholic Faith may earn this emblem. The Scout must complete the requirements before starting third grade.
The purpose is to help the Cub develop a personal relationship with Jesus. With the parents' active assistance and participation in this program, it is hoped that the Cub will come to see Jesus as a real person and his friend.
Parvuli Dei:
A Registered Bear or Webelos of Catholic faith that has completed the 2^nd grade may earn this emblem. The purpose of the Parvuli Dei (Children of God) emblem is 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, and also to develop a good, positive self-image through the contributions they can make to the group or community.
Ad Altare Dei:
Eligibility: Before work on the workbook begins, the approval form must be signed by the applicant, parent, counselor, Unit leader, and pastor.
- A Boy Scout of Catholic faith.
- The content is designed for 13 and 14 year olds.
- Older Scouts may also work on the program.
- Active member of the Troop for six months.
- Completed sixth grade before starting the program.
- The purpose of the Ad Altare Dei (to the altar of God) program is to help Catholic Scouts of the Roman Rite develop a fully Christian way of life in the faith community. The program is organized in chapters based on the seven Sacraments. The seven Sacraments are a primary means toward spiritual growth.
Pope Pius XII:
Eligibility: A registered youth member of the Boy Scouts of America of the Catholic faith.
- Has started ninth grade.
- Designed for age 15-16 year old, but all registered Venturers (male or female before their 21^st birthday) and all registered Boy Scouts (in high school, before their 18^th birthday) are eligible.
- Pope Pius XII is Catholic Scouting's church-related ministries and vocation program.
- The program deals with different life choices (single, married, religious, ordained), occupations and ministries in the church as calls from God.
- It includes youth led discussions on current issues facing the church and society, which are normally included as part of a Pius XII retreat or day of recollection.
Light is Life:
- A member of an Eastern Catholic church
- A registered member of the Boy Scouts of America, active in your troop for at least six months, and completed sixth grade before beginning the program
- Designed for the 12-13 year old. Other Scouts, older or younger may use the program.
- This program is to be used as an alternate to the Ad Altare Dei program. It is not appropriate to work on both programs.
- Complete the program before your 18th birthday to receive the recognition. For Scouts who are mentally or physically handicapped, the program may be made more flexible.
- The "Light is Life" is a program developed by the National Catholic Committee on Scouting (NCCS) for Boy Scouts of the Eastern Catholic churches. Light is Life respects the cultural and ritual differences among the various Eastern Catholic Churches.
- The overall goal of the Light is Life religious emblem program is to bring about in the Scout, through his Eastern Christian Scouting experience, a deeper awareness of his share in faith-life. Then going forth, he will witness this life through maturity in communal worship and in Christian formation of his world.

Please note that all Light of Christ and Parvuli Dei applications can be sent directly to the following address once they have been signed by the pastor or pastoral administrator. Cub Scout applications do not need to be processed through the RCCOS.

Send the completed application to:

Margie Rybarczyk
The Catholic Center
715 Nazareth Street
Raleigh, NC 27606.

The emblem and invoice will be mailed back to the person who sent it. Once you have received the emblem, work out a time for the presentation with your pastor or pastoral administrator.

All Boy Scout applications (Ad Altare Dei and Pope Pius XII) are first processed through the RCCOS due to the fact that a board of review is required. Contact Mr. Jim Cichetti, jimcichetti@hotmail.com, (919) 782-3834, for information about AAD and Pope Pius XII boards of review.

Becoming a Certified Religious Emblems Counselor

Those working with Boy Scouts on either Ad Altare Dei or Pope Pius XII must be a certified Religious Emblems Counselor. The following are the requirements for becoming a certified counselor:

Complete the Religious Emblem Counselor Application (PDF)
Attend the training session (held twice annually)
Be a registered member of the Boy Scouts of America
Complete Diocesan Safe Environment Training

Emmett J. Doerr Memorial Distinguished Scout College Scholarship (PDF)

Adult Recognition

Download Adult Recognition Nominee Form (to be used for all adult recognition awards below): PDF | Word

Bronze Pelican: The Bronze Pelican is a diocesan award which recognizes the outstanding service the nominee has given to the spiritual development of Catholic youth through the Scouting apostolate in the Diocese of Raleigh.

St. George: The St. George Award is a national honor which recognizes the outstanding service the nominee has given to the spiritual development of Catholic youth through the Scouting apostolate in general.

The Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Award is for adults who have made contributions of a notable nature to the spiritual development of youth. They may have made this contribution through any church sponsored program serving youth, including Girl Scouts. It is available to both lay and religious leaders.

The Saint Anne Medal is a national award for adults who have made outstanding contributions in any program that serves youth. In the Diocese of Raleigh, a recipient of this medal must have previously received the Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Award.

Resources for Catholic Girl Scouts and Campfire Participants

Below is a link from the National Catholic Committee for Girl Scouts and Campfire. It is a "training manual" for teaching adults how to develop the Catholic Recognition Awards for Girl Scouts.

RCCOS Girl Scout contact: Tia De Maria, tiademaria@bellsouth.net

Pope Paul VI National Quality Unit Award (PDF)

Events

RCCOS Upcoming Meetings

Meetings are held in the Pastoral Center at St. Ann in Clayton - www.st-annschurch.org.

September 6, 2008 at 10:00 AM
December 6, 2008 at 10:00 AM

RCCOS Upcoming Events

Religious Emblem Counselor Training - October 18
The Catholic Committee on Scouting will be hosting a Religious Emblems Counselor training session for all interested scouters on Saturday, October 18, 2008 from 10am to Noon at St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church in Apex. All scouters interested in becoming a religious emblems counselor, or in assisting groups of scouts to earn the Ad Altare Dei or Pope Pius XII Catholic religious emblems are required to attend this two hour training session.

Please contact Frank Jackson (frank.jackson@verizonbusiness.com) or Fr. Scott McCue (frscottmccue@aol.com) with any questions, AND to sign-up for this important training.

In addition, in order to completely qualify to become a certified emblems counselor, all scouters are to complete the diocesan required “Safe Environment” training for child abuse prevention. Please see your parish Safe Environment coordinator for more details.
2009 Catholic Scout Camporee (PDF): March 27-29 Camp Tuscarora, Bentonville (includes Religious Emblem Counselor Training). Bishop Burbidge will preside at the Mass for this year's camporee.
St. George Trek at Philmont (PDF)

Additional Information

Plan now for the Biennial National Catholic Committee on Scouting Conference to be held April 1-5, 2008 in Louisville, KY. Go to www.nccs-bsa.org for more information.
Catholic Eagle Scouts graduating from high school in 2008 should apply for the Emmett J. Doerr Memorial Distinguished Scout Scholarship. More information on the web at: http://www.nccs-bsa.org/business/EJDscholarship.php. Applications due April 1, 2008.
Sign up for the National Catholic Committee on Scouting publication, the eBridge (http://www.nccs-bsa.info/NCCSnews/).
Catholic chaplains, sign up for the NCCS Catholic chaplain’s newsletter. Information sent out as needed, not on a schedule. (http://www.nccs-bsa.info/NCCSnews/).
Plan now for the Scouting in the Catholic Church Conference at Philmont July 27-August 2, 2008. Invitations are now available from the NCCS office. Contact nccs@netbsa.org if you have any questions.

Camporee