Scouts honored at annual Mass

PISCATAWAY — “Our Catholic faith is more valuable than any pearl, and we should be very careful not to waste it,” Father John J. Barbella reminded the boy and girl Catholic Scouts seated before him in the chapel of the St. John Neumann Pastoral Center June 25. “Instead, we should make every effort we can to live our faith fully, to learn it more completely, as many of you have done by earning your religious medals.”
Some 44 youth from 19 parishes of the Diocese of Metuchen gathered with family and loved ones to celebrate that intersection of faith and scouting accomplishments at the annual Catholic Scouting Mass. Father Barbella, pastor of St. Philip and St. James Parish, Phillipsburg, was appointed the new diocesan Catholic Scouting Apostolate moderator earlier this year. Assisting at the liturgy was Deacon J.P. Saggese, chairperson of the diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting for Boys, who exercises his ministry in the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi, Metuchen.
As young men, both Father Barbella and Deacon Saggese had achieved the rank of Life Scout in the Catholic Boy Scout program, one level before Eagle Scout, and which is designed to develop leadership, responsibility and community service as merit badges are earned. Father Barbella told the scouts, “I have been involved in scouting since before I was ordained 37 years ago.”

    In his homily, Father Barbella reflected upon the day’s Old Testament reading of Abraham striving to keep the peace between his herdsmen and those of his brother-in-law, Lot (Gen. 13:2, 5-18). He reminded the youth that going to heaven at life’s end requires effort on their part, as do completing the requirements for their scouting badges and medals.
“We live in a world where so many people are more concerned about what others will do for them, about what they are owed or how others treat them,” he said. “As I read this story [about Abraham], I could not help thinking of the Scout law and oath: how it commits you to being kind, helpful, caring, trustworthy and friendly, to get along with others. It’s not always easy, but as any scout who takes that oath seriously knows, it certainly is worth it.”
The Scouting awards, which signified the many hours of study, service and education the boys and girls had undergone, were blessed and distributed to the youth. As moderators announced their names, they left their pews to receive the tokens, then returned to their pews and in excited whispers compared their medals and ribbons with their friends.
Father Barbella extended greetings to the scouts from Bishop James F. Checchio, who could not be present that evening, and recognized the accomplishments of his predecessor, Msgr. Michael J. Corona, with the Catholic Scouting St. Anne Medal and a wooden plaque for his years of service. Msgr. Corona, who also serves as pastor of St. Luke Parish, North Plainfield, had joined the scouting program as a nine-year-old Cub Scout more than six decades ago, risen to the ranks of Eagle Scout, and served the Diocese of Metuchen Catholic Scouting program for many years.
Youth and adults alike realized the medals stood for accomplishments of action and faith.
 Gregory Berquist of St. James Parish, Woodbridge, expressed joy with the Ad Altare Dei (To the Altar of God) award he had earned. He noted, “I liked to learn about scouting. My favorite activities are taking camping trips where I can fish and hike and take pictures.”
Annalis and Danny Marmol of St. Matthew Parish, Edison, beamed broadly as they examined the award their son, Cyrus, had received that evening.
“He liked to decipher codes and learn about the Sacraments,” Annalis said. Her husband, reflecting upon the difference Catholic scouting had made in Cyrus, added, “It is part of our faith. It’s more than just getting medals: it’s learning things like stewardship.”
Love for scouting had endured through three generations of females in one family. Doreen Sekora, a parishioner in St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Bridgewater, and co-chairperson of the diocesan Catholic Committee of Scouting for Girls, carefully read the names of the award-winning scouts who stepped forward to receive recognition as her daughter, Michelle, looked on with pride.
“She had been involved with Scouting since 1975 when I was three years old,” Michelle said, recalling the trips they had taken over the many decades in Catholic scouting. “The religious medals are special. The girls become involved in ministry and do service-related activities to change the community and learn social justice,” she continued as she drew her daughter, Madeline Rogala of Immaculate Conception Parish, Spotswood, closer to examine her “I Live My Faith” medal.

Boy Scout Awards

AD ALTARE DEI
Ad Altare Dei is Latin for “to the altar of God” and this program, based on the seven sacraments, helps Catholic youth of the Roman Rite to develop a fully Christian way of life in their faith community. The most important aims of the program are that the scout will grow in his spiritual experience and in his relationship with God and the Church.  

St. Mary, Alpha
Michael Iorio, Vincent Lamberti, Zachary Sumner

St. John Vianney, Colonia
Daniel McNamara

St. Helena, Edison
Neil Correa, Vian Miranda

St. Matthew the Apostle, Edison
Cyrus Marmol, Brandon Perez, Kyle Roben

Our Lady of Peace, Fords
Joshua Cruz, Colin Hinkle

Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi, Metuchen
Matthew Huffman, Michael McNamara, Connor Spinelli

St. Ambrose, Old Bridge
Sean Bannon, Antonio DeGiovanni, Kevin Gallagher, Michael Gallagher, Zach Medalle, Jovin Percoco, Thomas Ramsden

St. Clement, Old Bridge
Christoper Palmiero

St. Thomas the Apostle, Old Bridge
Daniel Maichin, Bradford Wallace

St. Philip and St. James, Phillipsburg
Kiernan Lopez, Logan Shoudt

St. James, Woodbridge
Gregory Berquist, Paul Berquist, Thomas Wondzynski-Ruffo

POPE PIUS XII
The Pope Pius XII award examines church-related ministries and vocations, among these life choices are the single, married, religious or ordained states. These ordained and lay ministries in the church are calls from God. Activities include youth-led discussions on current issues facing the church and society.  

St. Bartholomew, East Brunswick
Raymond Zebrowski

Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi, Metuchen
Matthew Bianchini, Joshua Puerzer, Keith Nieve

St. Patrick, Belevidere and St. Rose of Lima, Oxford
Alexander Ward

Girl Scout Awards
I LIVE MY FAITH
The I Live My Faith program is the official religious recognition program in the Diocese of Metuchen for Catholic Girl Scouts on the Junior level.  The program is action-oriented, and accompanied by reflection and sharing with parents, advisors and peers.   

St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Bridgewater
Amethyst (Amy) Bolink

MARY THE FIRST DISCIPLE
The Marian Medal program, serves as a reminder of our learned experience and a symbol of commitment to faith, service, and responsible community participation for Girl Scouts on the Cadette level.  

St. John the Evangelist, Dunellen
Maria Stein

Our Lady of Victories, Sayreville
Ava Boyce, Alyssa Downey

Sacred Heart, South Amboy
Alanna Knoell, Skylar Pabon, Ella Sanchez, Christa Suchcicki

Church of the Sacred Heart, South Plainfield
Lauren Co

Immaculate Conception, Spotswood
Madeline Rogala