All Catholic Scouts are invited to join us for the Diocesan Catholic Scouting Retreat on Saturday, November 12, 2022 at the North American Martyrs in Auburn, MA. Join us for a day of fun, faith, and fellowship with other scouts from around the Diocese of Worcester. The retreat is open to youth ages 10 and up from Scouts BSA, Girl Scouts, and American Heritage Girls. The theme is Exploring Our Faith Journey Through Scouting. The retreat includes a light continental breakfast, lunch, keynote speakers, various activities, prayer, Adoration, confessions, and Mass! Cost to attend is $25/person.
Click here to sign up!
Deadline to sign up is October 26th.
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 [email protected]
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
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 [email protected] 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:[email protected]
Scouting Episcopal Liason Deacon Ed Meilus - [email protected]
for Girl Scouts: Linda Brink [email protected]
for Boy Scouts: John Atlas - phone: (508) 856-0303, email:[email protected]
for American Heritage Girls located at Our Lady of Loreto - Lynn Minisian-Somers [email protected]
Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry: Tim Messenger [email protected] 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 S[email protected]
The Saint George Trek is The National Catholic Committee on Scouting’s® high adventure Catholic leadership program for older Catholic Boy Scouts and Venture Crew members at Philmont Scout Ranch. The program brings Catholic high school youth from around the country together with selected priests, religious and seminarians for eleven days of backpacking in the context of a vocation retreat. More info will be available later in the Spring.