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September 2021 Update
Dear Scout Friends,
One exciting initiative that the Religious Relationships Committee for the Greater St. Louis Area Council BSA has championed is to include a “Duty to God Moment” in the district roundtable trainings held throughout the council. The concept is to have a dedicated time during the roundtable program for the district religious emblems coordinator to deliver a brief reminder to everyone present about a Scout’s Duty to God. Much like the Scoutmaster Minute in Scouts BSA, these Duty to God Moments will hopefully impart a significant point for participants to consider in their careers as Scouters. Attached are the August and September versions of these “moments” which, perhaps, can be a moment of inspiration for you as well.
Yours in Scouting,
Kyle Holtgrave
Chair, Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting
(217) 698-8500 x. 154
(217) 622-4994 (cell)
Fr. Steve Arisman
Chaplain, Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting
Pastor, St. Francis Solanus, Quincy
National Catholic Committee on Scouting
Interested in helping on the national level? Join the National Catholic Committee on Scouting! Dues are $40 annually, or a lifetime membership for $400. Membership fees support the efforts of the National Catholic Committee on Scouting to provide faith-based programs including religious emblems; activity patches; adult, unit, and diocesan committee recognition awards; and national training conferences. In addition to The Bridge, the NCCS quarterly newsletter, you will also receive invitations to the annual meeting, to participate on Standing Committees, and Scouting in the Catholic Church conference at Philmont Training Center. Click here to sign up!
Committee Meetings Resume In Person
Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting will meet on the 4th Sunday of the month at 4 PM. All are welcome!
Goals for the next meeting are:
- To plan counselor training so more emblems groups can meet throughout the diocese
- To review current unit saturation and identify potential areas underserved by Scouts in the diocese
- To create a publicity campaign for religious emblems and recognitions
- To schedule and promote at least two Duty to God day camps in different locations in the diocese
- To develop a communication strategy to contact each Catholic Charter Organization quarterly
Ad Altare Dei Class for 2021-2022
I am happy to announce that classes for the Ad Altare Dei (To the Altar of God) religious emblem are resuming! These classes will be the 4thSunday of the month. The location has moved to Our Lady of Lourdes in Decatur to accommodate the cohort that is forming from that area. If there are other areas of the diocese that would like to have a group of Scouts earn the emblem, I will be happy to make arrangements.
- September 26, 2021 ~ Chapter 1: Introduction to Ad Altare Dei
- October 24, 2021 ~ Chapter 8: Matrimony
- November 21, 2021 ~ Chapter 6: Anointing of the Sick
- January 23, 2022 ~ Chapter 4: Eucharist
- February 27, 2022 ~ Chapter 2: Baptism
- March 27, 2022 ~ Chapter 5: Reconciliation
- April 24, 2022 ~ Chapter 3: Confirmation
- May 22, 2022 ~ Chapter 7: Holy Orders
- A retreat day will be added once more information is available.
The Ad Altare Dei program is designed for Scouts who are at least in 7th grade and a registered member of a Boy Scout Troop for at least 6 months. Participants are expected to be involved in the regular activities of their home parish, including religious formation and Sunday Mass. Non-Catholics are welcome and encouraged to participate fully in this religious emblem study to learn more about the Catholic faith.
Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting
The Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting serves the 28 counties in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. This area covers all or portions of 4 Boy Scout Councils and 2 Girl Scout Councils including:
- Girl Scouts of Central Illinois: Adams, Brown, Cass, Christian, Douglas, Greene, Macon, Menard, Montgomery, Morgan, Moultrie, Pike, Sangamon, Scott and Shelby Counties
- Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois: Bond, Calhoun, Clark, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, Edgar, Effingham, Fayette, Jasper, Jersey, Macoupin, and Madison Counties
- Mississippi Valley Council BSA: Eagle Ridge District ~ Adams, Pike and Brown Counties
- Greater St. Louis Council BSA: Piasa Bird District, Cahokia Mounds District, Arrowhead District, and Redhawk District
- Abraham Lincoln Council BSA: All districts ~ Honest Abe District, Log Cabin/Railsplitter District, Lincoln Home District
- Prairielands Council BSA: Prairie Fire District ~ Douglas County; Many Trails District ~ northern portion of Edgar County
Counties include:
Adams, Bond, Brown, Calhoun, Cass, Christian, Clark, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, Douglas, Edgar, Effingham, Fayette, Greene, Jasper, Jersey, Macon, Macoupin, Madison, Menard, Montgomery, Morgan, Moultrie, Pike, Sangamon, Scott, and Shelby