Diocesan program brings scouting and faith together

By Rayanne Damiano
Editor-in-Chief

A question was posed to the dozen or so young girl scouts clustered around the table. "Did you ever give a gift that was unexpected?"

The presenter questioned them further. "How did it make the person who received the gift feel?"

More than a topic for discussion, the inquiry also provided one of the objectives for the day’s gathering of girl scouts from across the diocese as they worked to earn the religious scouting medals they hope to receive in June.

Blessed Are They, the 21st annual Girl Scout Gathering held Nov. 15 in Christ the King School, Manville, drew the largest number of attendees in recent years, according to the event’s organizers. Nearly 100 junior, cadette and senior scouts came together to learn what is required of them for the program that integrates the tenets of scouting with spiritual formation and doctrinal training.

Sponsored by the diocesan Catholic Girl Scout Committee, under the direction of chairman Ruth Bielanski, the day featured a team of presenters, including veteran catechists, several religious and a deacon, all of whom dedicated their Saturday to teaching the girls about the Eucharist, vocations, the Beatitudes and Church doctrine. As they learned, the girls put their faith into practice, making colorful fall cards, magnets and door hangers for nursing home residents, all sending the message that they are loved and remembered.

St. Francis of the Martyr St. George Sister M. Tarcisia led one group discussion about the Beatitudes. Using the example of nursing home residents, she spoke of the need for works of mercy. "The people who are in nursing homes are the people who took care of us at one time. Some don’t have family to come and see them. They need to be reminded that someone cares about them."

From group to group, the subjects were different, but all focused on fundamental teaching of the Church and the Gospel, and ways to put this teaching into action. The senior girl scouts, who made up the smallest group, had the most advanced program, delving into the documents of the Second Vatican Council and the synods of bishops that have followed it.

Earlier in the morning, Deacon Henry Fierst of Sacred Heart Parish, Manville, gave the girls a talk on the essential nature of the Eucharist in the Catholic faith.

Later, religious representing the Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George, as well as the Felician and Mercy Sisters told their vocations stories, and invited the girls to be open to the possibility that God is calling them to religious life.

The religious emblem program was developed and is coordinated by the National Catholic Committee for Girl Scouts, under the auspices of the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry. It offers a program for all levels of girl scouts, including brownies, who take part in the Family of God project in their parishes; juniors, who complete the I Live My Faith project; cadettes, who do the Marian Medal project, and seniors, who do The Spirit Alive project.