
By Phil Brown
Contributing Writer
LATROBE – Bishop Larry J. Kulick exhorted Scouts from the Diocese of Greensburg to cling firmly to their moral principles and use their talents and skills to guide others to the Catholic faith.
Bishop Kulick spoke to Scouts during his homily as he celebrated the annual Diocesan Scout Convocation Mass at St. John the Evangelist Parish April 28.
During the Mass, the Bishop recognized 17 Catholic Scouts from the Diocese who have completed work on their religious emblems in the past year.
Bishop Kulick, who himself earned the rank of Eagle Scout, said the heart of Scouting is sacrificial love, love of God, love of country and love of others.
That love inspires Scouts to serve others as Jesus demonstrated to his disciples on Holy Thursday in the washing of their feet, he said.
“There is a common good that allows us to be people who reflect the goodness of God,” he said. “We need to remind ourselves to work for something beyond ourselves.
“Be the beacon. Be witnesses of your beliefs.”
Like Bishop Kulick, Chuck Boyer, chair of the Catholic Committee on Scouting for the Diocese of Greensburg, believes Scouting provides a pathway to strengthening faith in Catholic youth.
Boyer said the 12th point of the Scout Law – a Scout is reverent – is vital in helping Catholic Scouts embrace and nurture their faith.
It is the foundation of the other 11 points of the Scout Law, he said.
Scouts honored at the convocation had the opportunity to earn religious emblems and religious activity patches by completing faith-focused activities and projects.
“As parents or guardians, we want what is best for our kids, not just now but for the future,” Boyer said. “We want our kids to grow up to be good citizens and faithful Catholics.
“Catholic Scouting is a time-honored and fun way to support parents’ efforts to raise their children to become responsible, well-rounded adults,” he said, noting that Catholic Scouting has been a part of the vocation stories of many priests in the diocese.
“An emphasis on awareness and discernment of vocations is an important part of both the National and Diocesan Catholic Committees on Scouting (DCCS) missions,” he said.
In an effort to strengthen Catholic Scouting in the Diocese, Father E. George Saletrik, Diocesan Scout Chaplain and Pastor of St. John the Evangelist Parish, said efforts are underway to restore the Catholic Committee on Scouting to pre-pandemic effectiveness and the convocation to broader participation.
Boyer said Scouting parents or others interested in supporting the program should consider becoming members of the committee to help support the growth of Catholic Scouting.
Scouts who received the Ad Altare Dei Religious Emblem at the convocation are:
Raymond Lutz, Troop 465, Holy Cross Parish, Youngwood
Gabriel Snyder, Troop 205, Holy Family Parish, Plum
Max Snyder, Troop 205, Holy Family Parish, Plum
Nathan Collamer, Troop 205, Mount Saint Peter Parish, New Kensington
Elijah Crivellaro, Troop 465, Immaculate Conception Parish, Irwin
Jeremy Kaciubij, Troop 239, St. Barbara Parish, Harrison City
Nate Owoc, Troop 239, St. Barbara Parish
Logan Sage, Troop 239, St. Barbara Parish
Tyler Sage, Troop 239, St. Barbara Parish
Bradley Hoffman, Troop 480, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, North Huntingdon
Hunter Hoffman, Troop 480, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish
Zachary Hoffman, Troop 480, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish
Scouts who received the Pope Pius XII Religious Emblem at the convocation are:
Max Snyder, Troop 205, Holy Family Parish, Plum
Nathan Snyder, Troop 205, Holy Family Parish, Plum
Scotty Clark, Troop 239, Immaculate Conception Parish, Irwin
Anthony Poole, Troop 205, Mother of Sorrows Parish, Murrysville
Benjamin Poole, Troop 205, Mother of Sorrows Parish
To learn more about ways you can advocate for Catholic Scouting, contact Boyer at [email protected] or Father Saletrik at [email protected].
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