tvc.dsj.org | October 8, 2019
IN THE CHURCH
21
Scouting as Youth Ministry Encourages Spiritual Growth
One belief of the major youth-
serving agencies of the United States
(Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts
of the USA, and American Heritage
Girls) is that spiritual growth is essen-
tial to a healthy personality. Scouting
programs center on the belief that
youth cannot develop to their fullest
potential without a spiritual element
in their lives. The early founders of
scouting held this belief; programs
today continue to be a means through
which young people can explore their
faith and grow deeper in their faith
traditions.
The Catholic Church recognizes
that scouting programs are an ideal
method of supporting and encourag-
ing the spiritual growth of its youth as
well as a way of engaging youth and
young adults in the life of the Church.
It is one of many ways to evangelize
youth and their families. Scouting is
comprehensive youth ministry: it is
ministry with, to, by and for youth.
In a unique way Scouting meets the
three goals of youth ministry as set
forth in “Renewing the Vision” by:
empowering young people to live as
disciples of Jesus Christ; working to
draw young people to responsible
participation in the life, mission, and
work of the faith community; and
working to foster the total per-
sonal and spiritual growth
of each young person.
Scouting also en-
compasses all three
of the critical issues
of the Diocesan Pas-
toral Plan. Youth and
young adults are at-
tracted and engaged in
the life and leadership of
the church through Scout-
ing. Scouting develops adults
as leaders and prepares youth for
future adult leadership positions. The
Scout slogan, “Do a good turn daily,”
speaks to living out Catholic Social
Justice Teaching.
One particular way in which the
Church strives to evangelize as well
as catechize youth who are scouts, is
through specific religious programs
designed by the Church for use by
Cat holic Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts
and American Heritage Girls youth.
These programs are designed for the
advancement of youth in religious
and spiritual formation by combining
the dimensions of discovery, prayer
and service into specific program
requirements.
The Catholic committee
on Scouting, under the
direction of the Office
of Youth and Young
Adults of the Diocese,
strives to promote the
religious programs
throughout the Dio-
cese of San José. The
following programs are
available to Catholic youth
registered in Girl Scouts and
American Heritage Girls or can be
used on a parish level: “God Is Love”
for Kindergarten and first graders;
“Family Of God” for second and third
graders; “I Live My Faith” for youth
in fourth through fifth grade; “Mar-
ian Medal” for sixth through eighth
graders; “Spirit Alive” for high school
young adults; and “Missio” for young
adults in eleventh and twelfth grades.
For more information on these pro-
grams, please contact Moira Delumpa
at (408) 439-4315.
The following programs are avail-
able to registered members of the
Scouts of America who are Catholic:
“God Is Love” for Lion Cubs; “Light
Of Christ” for Tiger Cubs and Wolf
Cub Scouts; “Parvuli Dei” for Bear
Cub Scouts and Webelos Scouts; “Ad
Altare Dei” for middle school-aged
Scouts and; “Pope Pius XII” for Scouts
in high school or in the Venturing
program. For more information on
these programs, please contact Ann
Resch at (408) 227-8587.
Participants who successfully com-
plete the Catholic religious programs
are recognized annually at a diocesan
prayer service and award ceremony.
The next recognition ceremony will
be held March 22, 2020, at 3 p.m. at the
Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph. All
young people participating in any of
the above programs and wishing to be
recognized at this ceremony must com-
plete the programs by February 1, 2020
and be in contact with Ms. Delumpa or
Ms. Resch.
For information on other activities
sponsored by the Catholic Committee
on Scouting, please visit their webpage:
www.dsj.org/evangelization/youth/
catholic-scouting.
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More information regarding Catholic Schools
can be found at www.dsj.org/schools.
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