Ad Altare Dei Religion Medal awarded to Boy Scout Troop 440 members at St. Patricks Cathedral
MONROE Eleven members of Boy Scout troop 440 of Monroe were awarded the Ad Altare Dei Religion Medal during a special Mass honoring them and other regional recipients this past Sunday at St. Patricks Cathedral in New York.
The Ad Altare Dei Medal, meaning toward the altar of God, is one of the oldest religious awards available to Boy Scouts. It was originally given to recognize Boy Scouts who were also altar servers. Now its purpose has evolved to help Roman Catholic Boy Scouts develop a fully Christian way of life in the faith community.
The program is organized in chapters based on the Seven Sacraments, which is a primary means toward spiritual growth, according to program overseers.
To be eligible, the Boy Scout must be Catholic, attend Mass regularly, have received some form of formal Catholic religious education, completed the sixth grade and have been an active member of a Boy Scout troop for at least six months.
Monroe resident Jim Banville, a member of the Knights of Columbus 2079 in Monroe, served as the groups adult counselor. Banville, who completed special training by the Diocesan Committee on Catholic Scouting, met with them twice weekly since last October to oversee the completion of the medals requirements.
The scouts did a great deal of Bible reading, completed lessons, attended days of recollection, religious ceremonies, and completed a board of review process as well as a service project which was to send cards and messages of hope to terminally ill patients.
The Troop 440 medal recipients are members of St. Anastasia Church in Harriman and Sacred Heart Church in Monroe.
- Nancy Kriz