Ad Altare Dei Award Program Guide

1. Catholic Committee on Scouting Allentown Diocese Minsi Trails Council http://www.minsiccos.com Bill Brodniak brodniak@oncallphoto.com Ad Altare DeiReligious Award Training

2. Eligibility: the Scout • Application/Approval form signed • A registered Boy Scout of Catholic faith • 13 and 14 years old • Active member of Troop for 6 months • Completed 6th grade before starting the program Ad Altare Dei Award

3. Eligibility: the Counselor • Program Intent form signed and submitted to local CCoS • A registered member of BSA in good standing • Be of the Catholic faith • Completed the Diocesan program “Protecting God’s Children”http://www.allentowndiocese.org/ follow links for Protection of Youth and Protecting God’s Children • Completed BSA Youth Protection traininghttp://www.scouting.org/myscouting/elearning.aspx Ad Altare Dei Award

4. Ad Altare Dei Award Counselor attributes • INTERESTED • UNDERSTANDING • OPEN • FLEXIBLE AND CREATIVE • LIKEABLE • SENSE OF HUMOR • KNOWLEDGEABLE • COMMUNICATE • SPIRITUAL • SENSITIVE • OBSERVANT

5. Purpose of the award • Help Catholic Scouts of the Roman Rite develop a fully Christian way of life in the faith community • Program is organized in chapters based on the seven Sacraments which are a primary means toward spiritual growth Ad Altare Dei Award

6. Program Requirements • Use of a Catholic Bible is required St. Joseph version of New American Bible used in program preparation • Scout should be advancing in Scouting (not mandatory) • Regular participation in Sunday worship • Involved in formal religious education program • Complete ALL requirements in AAD manual • All sections must be completed and signed off • Attend annual Catholic Scout Retreat Weekend (last weekend in April) • Successfully complete AAD Board of Review Program designed to be completed in 6-8 months [start beginning of school year] Ad Altare Dei Award

7. AAD Board Of Review

8. Board of Review • Does he have a better understanding of his Christian commitment? • Has he learned to understand, support, and apply Christian principles to the problems of our day? • Has he thought about his vocation in life: a vocation to the priesthood, religious life, marriage, or single life? • How has his relationship with his Church grown? • What is his attitude toward Scouting and the ideals of the program? • How does his relationship between Scouting and the Church compare? • Has the Scout grown in his understanding and living out of his faith? (faith growth) Ad Altare Dei Award

9. Award Presentation • The religious emblem will be presented to theScout at the annual Youth Recognition Ceremony • Sunday after Mother’s Day in May • The religious knot or device should be presented at a Troop Court of Honor Ad Altare Dei Award

10. Counselor’s role: Delivering the Program • Use the AAD Counselor Guide • Facilitate (keep moving and on track) the general discussions • Review the chapters prior to meeting • Anticipate questions or stumbling areas • Hold regular meetings & schedule projects • Use of a check-off worksheet helps keep track of progress • Review progress of each chapter & sign off Ad Altare Dei Award

11. Counselor’s role: Guiding the Scout • Help the Scout experience Christ’s deep love for them as individuals (not dependent on their behavior) • Help the Scout go beyond the surface answers of childhood • Encourage greater participation of Catholic Scouts in the religious programs of the Church • Promote the Spiritual component of Scouting within the parish and unit. (A Scout is Reverent) • Help create an atmosphere conducive to the development of religious vocations. Ad Altare Dei Award

12. Scout’s Roles and Responsibilities: • Attend regular meetings. If Scout misses more than two meetings…….. • Work through the AAD Scout Manual with Counselor using a Bible where appropriate • Stay on task and schedule • Make the program a priority • Be prepared to share experiences at BOR • Attend Catholic Scout Retreat Ad Altare Dei Award

13. Parent’s Role • Support the Religious Emblems Counselor in her/his role • Support your son as he shares lessons with the family • Make the program a priority Ad Altare Dei Award

14. Sections • Section 1: Introduction • Chapter 1: Sacraments and Sacraments in Our Daily Life • Section 2: The Sacraments of Initiation • Chapter 2: Baptism • Chapter 3: Confirmation • Chapter 4: Eucharist Ad Altare Dei Award

15. Sections • Section 3: Sacraments of Healing • Chapter 5: Reconciliation • Chapter 6: Anointing of the Sick • Section 4: Sacraments of Service (Commitment) • Chapter 7: Holy Orders • Chapter 8: Marriage Ad Altare Dei Award

16. AAD Chapter make-up: • Life Experiences • Focus on experiences within the life of the Scout and begins to examine them • Activity • Interrelate Sacraments with life experience and faith knowledge • Faith Response • Application and summary – experiences leading to growth of faith • Scoutmaster sign-off • Scout keeping the SM up-to-date on his personal growth – more than one chapter at a time is permitted Ad Altare Dei Award

17. No changes permitted Additional requirements may not be added Puzzles – don’t allow Scouts to skip ahead – they are part of the chapter material Ad Altare Dei Award

18. Open “The Good Book” • Internet sites with Scripture passages for the day – sometimes with reflections • www.dailygospel.org • www.ewtn.com • www.usccb.org • www.daily-word-of-life.com • www.wau.org • www.wordofgod.ca Ad Altare Dei Award

19. Exodus 20:1-17 Verses Book Chapter Ad Altare Dei Award • Column A • Exodus 20:1-17 (OT or NT) • Genesis 5:1-24 (OT or NT) • Luke 15:11-31 (OT or NT) • Acts 6:1-7 (OT or NT) • Column B • History • Poetry • Genealogy • Law • parable Now match a numbered Column A ‘Scripture Passage’ with a Column B ‘Literary Form’, plus is the Scripture Passage from the Old Testament (OT) or from the New Testament (NT)

20. Chapter 1: Sacraments and Sacramentals in our daily life • Goal: recognize the signs of faith and their importance • Question: What is a Sacrament and why should it be important to me? • Life Experience: • Scouting symbols & signs • Common life symbols & signs • Symbols of our Christian life • Sacraments: celebrating / encountering Jesus through symbols and words • Sacraments originated with Jesus’ words and actions Ad Altare Dei Award

21. Chapter 1. • Sacramentals • Objects: pictures, statues, ……. • Actions: genuflections, ….. • Places: Rome, …… • Practices: Retreats, …. • C. Faith response • Homilies – tough to complete, you may want to read Gospel at end of meeting then remind them to make a note or two about homily • Scoutmaster minutes – skits Ad Altare Dei Award

22. Chapter 2. Baptism • Goal: Baptism is the start of his life in Christ and a covenant of union with God • Question: How does Baptism relate to my daily life? • What does it mean to be initiated into a group? • Scouts’ expectations and responsibilities • Christians’ expectations and responsibilities • Scout discovers that many of the responsibilities accepted at Baptism are fulfilled in Scouting Ad Altare Dei Award Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, & Eucharist

23. Baptism • Signs and symbols – Water • Hebrews cross Jordan river • Crossing desert (death – sin) into promised land (life) • Death: Noah’s flood, Pharaoh’s army, typhoon • Life: Water from rock, rain for crops, drink • Is your Faith in God an active part of your daily life – visible to others as a guiding light. • Bible practice • [C] Prayer Service (pg 16, Counselor’s Guide) Ad Altare Dei Award

24. Chapter 3. Confirmation • Goal: Discover the role of the Holy Spirit in his daily Christian life • Questions: What is the Spirit? How should the Spirit affect our daily life? • Confirmation: sign of one’s total openness to the Spirit of God – it’s action through his life • Examine: • The presence, power, effect of team and Scouting spirit • Spirit in the early Church • Power of the Holy Spirit within the Church and their daily lives Ad Altare Dei Award

25. Confirmation • First Class Scout Confirmed Catholic Ad Altare Dei Award Teach younger Scouts Skills – give a good example - Live the Scout Spirit Take leadership role teach others about Christ – give good example Live the Christian Spirit >B4: Find an Eagle Scout – important witness! >Service Project: Scout lists gifts and talents – use these to help others – not meant to be overburdening, but not busy work. >Prayer Service: C2, page 24 (pg 20 in Counselor’s guide)

26. Chapter 4. Eucharist • Goal: explore how Eucharist unites Christian past, strengthens him for present and future • Questions: How does the Eucharist give me strength? Do you feel it is easy to follow Christ? To live as He would want you to do? • Do not focus on Mass – focus on sacrificial meal • Example: • ‘family’ gatherings • Last Supper Ad Altare Dei Award

27. Eucharist • B1: Feeding Miracles: not extraordinary occurrences, ordinary occurrences that became extraordinary • Experience different Eucharist or meal settings • They have the power within themselves to make the Eucharist meal more enjoyable, meaningful, and personal Ad Altare Dei Award

28. Chapter 5. Reconciliation • Goal: grow in understanding God’s unconditional love. • Questions: Counselor's guide pg 28 • Need to present positive view of Sacrament • Sin: no such thing as a private sin – not just God vs Me – all sin effects my personal attitude towards others Ad Altare Dei Award Sacraments of healing: Reconciliation & Anointing of the Sick

29. Reconciliation • Forgiveness in our lives: • How does it compare to the Bible stories of ‘the Good Thief’ or ‘the Prodigal Son’ • “Our Father” skit • Reconciliation (penance) – of a nature to promote healing and change (reform) in the sinner • B4: Private discussion with Counselor • Prayer Service: celebration of God’s forgiving nature Ad Altare Dei Award

30. Chapter 6. Anointing the Sick • Goal: grow in understanding the Church’s ministry to the sick, and the Christian attitude toward suffering and illness • Questions: Why do you think God permits sickness & injury? How do we as a Faith community experience this Sacrament? • Example: • Scout reflects on sickness and injury. • How did Jesus minister to sick? Ad Altare Dei Award

31. Anointing the Sick • Attend healing service, an anointing of the sick • Assumes the presence of a praying community • Service project: one month helping others – should be some personal interaction Ad Altare Dei Award *** All Sacraments are Community Events ***

32. Chapter 7. Holy Orders • Goal: how ordination helps individuals grow in holiness and witness God’s love • Examine: • Scout Slogan, “Do a Good Turn Daily,” and someone who lives it • Call, selection, and mission of apostles • Interview a bishop, priest, or deacon (scheduling!) • Could do as a group • Suggest that questions are prepared prior to meeting • Serra Club can provide contacts with seminarians Ad Altare Dei Award Sacraments of Service (Commitment): Marriage and Holy Orders

33. Chapter 8. Marriage • Goal: Investigate how marriage helps spouses to grow in holiness and witness Christ’s love • Scout example: • Concept of teamwork • Biblical foundations of marriage • Interview married couple (parents) • St Paul frequently parallels relationships husband and wife to relationship between Christ and His Church Ad Altare Dei Award

34. Catholic Scout Resources National Catholic Committee on Scouting http://www.nccs-bsa.org

35. Catholic Scout Resources Allentown Diocese http://www.allentowndiocese.org

36. Catholic Scout Resources Minsi Trails Catholic Committee on Scouting http://www.minsiccos.com

37. Catholic Scout Resources P.R.A.Y. http://www.praypub.org

38. Ad Altare Dei Award Congratulations! _______________________has completed the Ad Altare Dei Award Counselor Training October 5, 2009 ________________________________ Bill Brodniak, Catholic Committee on Scouting Allentown Diocese