Ceremony awards scouts with religious emblems

A wave of khaki flooded St. Joseph Cathedral as Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and American Heritage Girls from across the diocese gathered for the 50th annual Religious Awards Ceremony. The March 23 event saw eight different awards presented to scouts as recognition of their service and dedication.

Scouting remains close to the heart of Bishop Michael W. Fisher. An Eagle Scout himself, he now serves as the episcopal liaison to the National Catholic Committee on Scouting.

“I love scouting,” he said at the beginning of Mass. “Know that I support you and pray for you.”

Father Leon Biernat, diocesan chaplain for the Boy Scouts, delivered a homily recalling being pushed into a swimming pool and nearly drowning at age 5. The incident caused him to fear the water until, in high school, Ann Swan taught him to swim.

“It opened up a whole new world to me,” he said. “Today, I even play water volleyball. Simply because Mrs. Swan invited me to go into the deep water. It was going into the deep end, the deep water that really conquered the fear.”

That day’s readings show other individuals who went into the deep. Isiah was willing to serve, but needed the proper equipment. St. Paul was aware of his own ineptitude and sinfulness. Peter, although an excellent fisherman, followed Jesus’s instruction to cast his nets into the deep.

“Today, we celebrate the fact that all of you have been called to go into the deep and you have gone into the deep,” Father Biernat told the Scouts gathered. “You’ve been invited to go into the deep and unknown of your faith. Regardless of which level of scouting award we offer you and honor you with today, you’ve all gone into the deep. I really hope and pray this day that you learned over the course of preparing for this religious honor you have seen what God can do for you.”

Scouts earn religious emblems and medals through the study of saints, understanding the sacraments, and service projects to the community.

The Bishop’s Scouting Award is presented to those who complete four Catholic Religious Emblems Programs. This year three Boy Scouts received the honor.

Dylan Savage, 17, from Troop 400, based in SS. Peter & Paul Parish, Hamburg, joined Cub Scouts nearly 10 years ago and has grown in the ranks.

“Great program. You learn a lot of stuff,” he said. “You learn life skills, make friendships. There’s guys here that I never met before, and they’re some of my best friends.”

He also received the Pope Pius XII Award earned by a “bunch of different activities” including attending retreats and conducting service projects, as well as studying.

He calls the ceremony “unique.”

“It’s a cool feeling, especially being here in the church. It’s not like any other award you receive,” he said.

Colin Terrill from Troop 92 and a member of St. Mary Parish in Swormville, led a clothes drive to earn his Pope Pius XII medal, designed to assist youth to develop a full Christian life.

“We had to collect for Harvest House,” he said of his project. “We put flyers around and we collected clothes in bags and we brought them to Harvest House. They would donate them to kids and adults.”

Another recipient of both the Pope Pius XII and Bishop’s Award was Robert Krahl from Troop 457 out of Williamsville. He pursued the religious awards to bond with God.

“They make me feel more connected with God and make me feel better about my faith,” he said. “Scouting makes you feel more connected with God because you work in a church at scout meetings and we have all these religious emblems that can help you to find God and help yourself with your faith.”

In 1934, the Boy Scouts of America approved a plan of cooperation with the Catholic Church, forming the National Catholic Committee on Scouting. Through the years, a series of religious emblems and medals were created to recognize scouts and adult leaders who have studied and served in a variety of manners.  

In 1974, multiple Catholic committees in the Diocese of Buffalo came together to form the Buffalo Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting, and held the first diocesan Religious Awards ceremony.

At the service, it was announced that in recognition of his firm commitment to Catholic youth and Support of the Boy Scouts of America’s Scouting as Youth program, Bishop Fisher has been nominated for the St. George Emblem. The award is presented to members of the laity and clergy, scouters and non-Scouters alike, who have made significant and outstanding contributions to the spiritual development of Catholic youth in Scouting. The bishop will receive the award at the May 8 national meeting conference. 

Below is a complete list of Religious Emblem recipients:

Mary, the First Disciple

Girl Scout Troops 30980 and 34414

Alice Mackey, St. Mary, Swormville

Emma Mackey, St. Mary, Swormville

Kate Perras, St. Gregory the Great, Williamsville

Ad Altare Dei

Troop 92

Patrick MacDiarmid, St. Mary, Swormville

James Vaillancourt, St. Mary, Swormville

Troop 107

Scott Wegst, St. John Kanty, Buffalo

Troop 229G

Emmilyn Pygon, Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Harris Hill

Troop 400

Noah Kock, SS. Peter & Paul, Hamburg

Jacob Sterner, SS. Peter & Paul, Hamburg

Troop 431

Kate Biniasz, Christ the King, Snyder

Oliver Czesak, St. Leo the Great, Amherst

Leo Grupp, St. Leo the Great, Amherst

Dylan Knox, St. Benedict, Eggertsville

Bella Grace Lim, St. Leo the Great, Amherst

Troop 440

Declan Basil, St. Gregory the Great, Williamsville

Connor Dickerson, St. Gregory the Great, Williamsville

Nathan Moss, St. Gregory the Great, Williamsville

Drew Peet, St. Gregory the Great, Williamsville

Liam Sendlak, St. Gregory the Great, Williamsville

Nico Violante, St. Gregory the Great, Williamsville

Troop 618

Justin Uebelhoer, St. Vincent de Paul, Springbrook

Lucas Uebelhoer, St. Vincent de Paul, Springbrook

John Wiatrowski, St. Vincent de Paul, Springbrook

Pope Pius XII

Troop 92

Ben Muraco, St. Pius X, Getzville

Colin Terril, St. Mary, Swormville

Troop 400

Dylan Savage, SS. Peter & Paul, Hamburg

Troop 457

Robert Krahl, St. Mary, Swormville

Bishop’s Scouting Award
Collin Terrill, St. Mary, Swormville

Dylan Savage, SS. Peter & Paul, Hamburg

Robert Krahl, St. Mary Swormville

International Catholic Awareness Medallion

Troop 400

Joseph Janiszeski, St. John the Baptist, Boston

Joshua Janiszeski, St. John the Baptist, Boston

Bronze Pelican

Andrew Erdman, St. Gregory the Great, Williamsville

Susan Perras, St. Gregory the Great, Williamsville

Pope Paul VI National Catholic Unit Excellence Award

Troop 400 of SS. Peter & Paul, Hamburg

Troop 440 of St. Gregory the Great, Williamsville

Listen to Michael Mroziak’s report below.