Emblems and Recognitions

Duty to God

All Scouts share "duty to God" in common as part of their Scouting experience. The Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting serves to help connect Scouts with the spiritual programs that will help him or her grow in their faith. The religious emblems for members of Boy Scouts of America and the religious recognitions for Girl Scouts USA and other kindred organizations are some of the many options Scouts have for tending to their duty to God.

 

Information about specific religious awards are found in the "religious awards" tab of this website.

 

Celebrations for Presenting Religious Awards

Below is a resource that can be adapted for local use in preparing a suitable award presentation ceremony for Scouts who have earned religious awards.

pdfParish_Recognition_of_Religious_Awards.pdf

 

Presenting the Award:

Religious awards should be presented in the same manner as other significant BSA awards for the unit. For Cub Scouts and Webelos, the presentation could be part of a Pack meeting or at the Blue and Gold Banquet. Scouts BSA typically host a Court of Honor to give out awards. Special recognition could also be part of the parish celebration of Scout Sunday, usually the first Sunday in February or at a time that works better for the pastor and parish.

 

Wearing the Award

The emblem is normally worn for only the most formal occasions in Scouting. Examples would be Courts of Honor, Blue and Gold Banquets and during your parish celebration of Scout Sunday. The medal is worn pinned immediately above the top seam of the left shirt pocket of the official uniform.

In lieu of the emblem, Scouts are authorized to wear the Religious Emblem Square Knot (silver on purple, item #5007) above the left breast pocket and below the World Crest on the official Scout uniform.

Once earned, the Scout may wear the Religious Emblem Square Knot all official Scout uniforms throughout his or her Scouting career. Religious awards are not BSA awards and, therefore, do not have to be removed when a Scout transitions from one Scouting program to another, or from transitioning from being a youth member to an adult member of Boy Scouts of America.

 

Multiple Emblems

The Religious Emblem Square Knot represents all religious emblems earned by that Scout. Only one patch is authorized. If a Scout has more than one religious emblem, devices can be inserted into the patch to represent subsequent awards based on the schedule below.

Light of Christ – Cub Scout device, item #604950

Parvuli Dei – Webelos Scout device, item #932

Ad Altare Dei – Scout device, item #927

Pope Pius XII – Venturing pin, item #4101

 

religious_awards_order_form_FILLABLE.pdf

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The Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting (DCCS) is a group of Catholic lay people and clergy who give guidance, vitality and leadership to the spiritual programs that are available for members of Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts USA and kindred scouting movements in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois.

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