Boy Scouts

Light of Christ

7-8 years old
1st-2nd grade

This is a very meaningful award for Cub Scouts preparing to receive their Reconciliation and First Eucharist. This award can be easily completed within a one to four month time span. The boys should work on these individually with their own families.

Age Group: 7-8 years old; Tiger and Wolf Cub or 1st and 2nd grade. Each boy should be enrolled in a religious class either through school or a CCD program. Must be an active member of the pack.

Parvuli Dei

9-11 years old
3rd-5th grade

This book is a little deeper approach to the Catholic faith. The child begins to explore his inner self and those of his family to recognize those special qualities they possess and to utilize those qualities to benefit everyone around them. Again this award is to be worked on in an individual family basis to be most effective.

This award requires more time to complete and work should be begun as soon as the Scout advances at the end of the Scout year and spread through the summer and into the fall. Note: This book requires the participant to make a banner as one of the requirements.

Age Group: Boys 9 ­ 11 years old, Bear or Webelo Scout; 3rd, 4th, or 5th Grade. Boy should be enrolled in a religious education program either through school or a CCD program and an active member of the pack.

Light is Life

Eastern Rite

12-13 years old
6th-7th grade

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.

The Light is Life program is 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 when the Scout is a member of an Eastern Catholic church. It is not appropriate to work on both programs.

You must be a registered Scout to begin the program and be active one year in Scouting before receiving the Light is Life emblem. You must 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 program itself consists of five sections. These consist of an Introduction, Christian Initiation, Healing, Vocation and living a Christian Life-style. The Scout should work under the guidance of a certified Religious Emblems Counselor. Check with your local Catholic Committee on Scouting to learn who can serve in this capacity for you. Your local Boy Scout service center can put you in touch with the Catholic Committee if needed.

The Light is Life program consists of readings, discussions, activities and projects which help you learn your religion better. These are best done with a group of other Scouts. The approximate length of time for completion of the program is about 12 months.

Ad Altare Dei

13-14 years old
7th-8th grade

This award requires the Boy Scout to study each of the seven sacraments and recognize how the Scout oath and law directly correlate with the morals and teachings of the Catholic faith. Each boy, with their family, decides to work on this award. It is handled as a more formal class type setting with the Scouts working together with a counselor on the book. The Scout is required to do preparatory work and communicate with their families as they are working on the book. The Pittsburgh Diocese divides the book in two parts (two years), separating the eight chapters.

It takes at least six months to work on this book. Work begins in September and ends in February. The Scout is required to attend a Day of Recollection or a retreat as a requirement in the first year. Scouts that earn a religious award are held in higher esteem as this requires more work than a merit badge.

Age Group: Boys in 7th and 8th Grade are eligible to begin working on this award. Boys should be enrolled in a religious education program through school or a CCD/equivalent program.

PopePiusXII

15-18 years old
9th-12th grade

This award is available for Boy Scouts of high school age. Although it is designed as a continuum of the Ad Altare Dei, it can be worked on without the AAD. The boys are more responsible for this award in that they run the sessions in a seminar type manner and the adult acts more as a moderator. This award is designed to be worked on in a group setting. Therefore, if you only have one Scout interested in working on this, it is best to match him up with a group that is working on the same award.

This award requires at least six months to fulfill all the requirements. Also, it is a requirement for the candidates to attend a Day of Recollection or Retreat.

Age Group: Boys 15-18 years old or Grades 9th- 12th.