Catholic Scouting

Scouts from around the Diocese of Worcester received Catholic Scouting emblems from Bishop McManus, after months of study in various faith programs counseled by certified Catholic Scouting leadership. The awards were presented at the Cathedral of St. Paul at a special Mass on March 26th.

The Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting (DCCS) consists of Catholic Scouters who are registered in one or more of the many Scouting programs of the Diocese of Worcester. These include the BSA, American Heritage Girls and Girl Scouts of Central/Western Massachusetts among parts or all of four Councils and service areas. Adjunct members of the committee include the Chartered Organization Representatives of all Scouting units which are sponsored by the Catholic parishes within the Worcester Diocese.
 
The DCCS is overseen by the Bishop of Worcester, the Very Rev. Robert J. McManus, through the Office of Youth Ministry. Our responsibilities include the administration of the Catholic Scouting emblem program, including the certification of all instructors of the many emblem programs. In addition, our committee’s tasks encompass all areas of Catholic Scouting such as religious activities, Catholic youth and adult membership development, new unit sponsorship and training in the various Scouting programs within the Diocese and more.
 
Please check out our most recent events and activities on Facebook at @WorcesterDCCS
For questions regarding any of the above or to express interest in other areas of related involvement in our committee’s work please contact DCCS Chairman John Atlas by phone at (508) 856-0303 or via email at Scoutmaster.Troop9@gmail.com


For more information on the Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting's mission, work, and offerings, click on the lin below for our tri-fold brochure.
 

Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting Informational Brochure

Written by Fr. Edward Looney

Lord, have mercy.  R. Lord, have mercy.
Christ have mercy. R. Christ have mercy.
Lord have mercy.  R. Christ have mercy.

Christ hear us. R. Christ graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven. R. Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the World. R. Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit. R. Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God  R. Have mercy on us.

Response: Pray For Us

Holy Mary
Holy Mother of God
St. Joseph
Queen of Heaven
Queen of Peace
Queen of Families
Comforter of the Afflicted
Undoer of Knots
Star of the Stormy Sea

Our Lady of the Smile
Our Lady of Consolation
Our Lady of Good Health
Our Lady of Good Remedy
Our Lady of Lourdes

Virgin of the Poor
Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal
Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Our Lady of Hope
Our Lady of Good Help

Response: Mary, Help Us

In times of trial
In times of confusion
In times of fear
In times of quarantine
In times of isolation
In times of loneliness
In times of pandemic
In times of sickness
In times of uncertainty

Response: Mary Help Them

For government leaders
For scientists and medical researchers
For first responders
For nurses and doctors
For priests and funeral directors
For the Church and Her healing mission
For the sick and the suffering
For pregnant women and their babies
For the elderly
For those with compromised immune systems
For those worried about the future
For the unemployed and financially distressed
For those diagnosed with coronavirus
For those fighting for their life
For those at the hour of death
For those who have lost their life
For those who mourn and grieve

Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world
Spare us, O Lord

Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world
Graciously hear us, O Lord

Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world
Have mercy on us

Pray for us, O holy Mother of God
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ

Let us pray,

Grant O God, through the intercession and mediation of Our Lady of Good Help, all the graces we need in these difficult times. May Our Lady now intercede for us, and as her foot crushes the head of the serpent, may she now squash this virus and stay its spread. In our time of need we fly to your protection and intercession, O Lady of Good Help. Help us not to fear, for God is with us and you are praying for us. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

On Friday, June 5th, 7-8pm East Coast Time, we will offer a virtual lesson on Our Lady of Good Help
https://forms.gle/EgPNPeLsPDh5qHGr9
-after you register, we will send the link for the virtual presentation
Many of us are familiar with Our Lady of Lourdes, Our Lady of Guadalupe, or Our Lady of Fatima. If you have not heard, the first and only Church approved Marian apparition site in the United States is in Champion, Wisconsin. Having just celebrated the feast of Mary, Mother of the Church, on June 1st, it is appropriate that we continue to learn more about Our Lady. We will learn about Our Lady of Good Help who identified herself as "‘The Queen of Heaven who prays for the conversion of sinners.”
Thanks to generous support from Our Sunday Visitor, we invite all families, especially our religious education families, our Catholic School families, and Catholic scouting families to join us for a virtual lesson from Father John Broussard, Fathers of Mercy, and Rector of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help in Champion, Wisconsin. 
Times (all times listed are Eastern Standard Time)
7:00pm Welcome, prayer and overview, Theresa Dirig, National Catholic Committee on Scouting Activities Chair
7:05pm Lesson on Our Lady of Good Help, Father John Broussard, Fathers of Mercy
7:35pm Questions and answers with Father John Broussard
7:45pm Pray the Litany of Our Lady of Good Help
7:55pm Conclusion
8:00pm End of virtual lesson
 
Please forward this invitation to friends and families throughout our diocese and country.
 
If you are interested in ordering the $3 scout patch for you or your children, more information is available at these two websites:
https://www.nccs-bsa.org/index.php/religious-activities/marian-series/our-lady-of-good-help
https://www.nccs-bsa.org/store/product-category/patches/marian-series-patches/

Any scout actively working on their Catholic religious emblem award needs to submit their completed workbook forms to the Diocese of Worcester.  Boy Scout awards are $20 (paid for by either the scout’s home parish or scout’s unit) and Girl Scouts - $15.  Checks can be made out to RC Bishop of Worcester.  Completed forms and checks should be mailed to: 

DCCS
c/o John Atlas, Chairman
800 Main St., Suite 185
Holden, MA   01520

If you'd like to make a donation to support our emblem program, please click here!

The Worcester Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting is offering for purchase a new Scout Sunday patch - with button loop - for units to provide to their Scouts and leaders as an incentive for participation in Scout Sunday activities. The patch is not restricted to Catholic Scouts, but rather all Scouts no matter their faith are eligible to receive one as determined by their unit leadership.

Cost of the patch is $3. Proceeds from the modestly-priced patch will help to defray - and perhaps eliminate - the costs of the medal programs for Scouts who seek to earn one or more of the four medals in the Catholic Diocese. Please use the form below to order, and contact John Atlas at scoutmastertroop9@gmail.com if you have any questions. Thank you for your help in promoting this program. 

Scout Sunday Patch Order Form

Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting Chair  John Atlas -  phone: (508) 856-0303, email:Scoutmaster.Troop9@gmail.com

Scouting Episcopal Liason Deacon Ed Meilus - deacon.ed.02@gmail.com

for Girl Scouts: Linda Brink lbrink2019@gmail.com

for Boy Scouts: John Atlas -  phone: (508) 856-0303, email:Scoutmaster.Troop9@gmail.com

for American Heritage Girls located at Our Lady of Loreto - Lynn Minisian-Somers lmmsomers@gmail.com

Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry: Tim Messenger tmessenger@worcesterdiocese.org 508-929-4360

* For more information on Boy Scout Religious Emblem program check out   

*For more information on the Girl Scout Religious Recognition program go to http://www.nfcym.org/patches

*For an easy to read brochure of the different religious awards offered through Girl Scouts, click on this  link http://www.nfcym.org/patches

* Information on American Heritage Girls go to https://www.americanheritagegirls.org/

*John Atlas, Awards Program Chairman -for those interested in Ad Altare Dei and Pope Pius XII medal programs in the Diocese of Worcester geographical area, email John at Scoutmaster.Troop9@gmail.com