About the Emblem
The Light is Life emblem helps Scouts who are members of the Eastern Catholic Churches develop a fully Christian way of life within the faith community.
The program respects the liturgical, spiritual, cultural, and theological traditions of the Eastern Catholic Churches. It is intended for Eastern Catholic Scouts and is normally used instead of the Ad Altare Dei program.
Program Objectives
The most important goal of the Light is Life program is the Scout’s spiritual growth. Through the program, Scouts are invited to deepen their relationship with God, grow in their understanding of the Church, and participate more fully in the life of their Eastern Catholic parish and community.
Eligibility
The Light is Life emblem is for registered Scouts who are members of one of the Eastern Catholic Churches.
The program is designed especially for Scouts who are about 12 or 13 years old, although older or younger Scouts may also use the program when appropriate.
Registered Venturers and Sea Scouts may participate before their 21st birthday. Registered Scouts BSA members may participate before their 18th birthday.
Requirements
Each Scout must have their own Light is Life Scout Manual. The manual is designed for the Scout to complete with the guidance of an approved facilitator.
The program is designed to be completed over approximately 12 months.
A Catholic Bible is required for this program.
Regular participation in the Divine Liturgy, Holy Qurbana, or Mass is also required, according to the tradition of the Scout’s Church.
All eparchial or diocesan safe environment requirements and Scouting America Youth Protection policies must be followed.
Each Scout must complete the requirements in the Light is Life Scout Manual and participate in the final review process to be eligible to receive the emblem.
Getting Started
The Light is Life Scout Manual may be obtained from the Scout’s Eparchial Catholic Committee on Scouting or from the Catholic Scouting America/NCCS Online Store.
The Scout should identify an approved facilitator before beginning the program. Families may ask their unit leader, pastor, parish administrator, religious education director, parish contact, unit committee member, or Eparchial Catholic Committee on Scouting whether there is a trained facilitator in their parish or area.
A trained religious emblems facilitator is required for this program. Adults interested in becoming facilitators should contact their Eparchial Catholic Committee on Scouting for training and approval. If there is no known eparchial Catholic Committee on Scouting, contact the eparchial chancery or the Catholic Scouting America/NCCS Religious Emblems Committee Chair for guidance.
Before beginning the program, the Scout must complete the application included in the Light is Life Scout Manual. The application should be signed by the Scout, parent or guardian, facilitator, unit leader, and pastor or parish administrator.
Scout’s Role
The Scout should:
- Actively participate in the activities and discussions
- Complete all assigned work in the Light is Life Scout Manual
- Make journal entries, reports, and written responses legible and thoughtful
- Review each completed step with the facilitator
- Keep the unit Religious Emblems Coordinator informed of their progress, if applicable
- Be prepared to share what they have learned during the final review
Facilitator’s Role
The facilitator (formerly referred to as a counselor) accompanies Scouts as they work through the Light is Life program. The facilitator helps keep the group focused, encourages discussion, reviews completed work, and supports each Scout’s spiritual growth.
Facilitators for Light is Life should be approved in advance by their pastor or parish administrator and by the eparchial Scout chaplain or Eparchial Catholic Committee on Scouting.
The Light is Life Facilitator Guide is an important resource for this program. It includes background and resources for facilitators, including those who may be less familiar with Eastern Christianity.
National Catholic Leadership Development and facilitator training are also recommended and may be required by the Scout’s eparchy.
All facilitators must have current Scouting America Youth Protection Training and meet all applicable eparchial or diocesan safe environment requirements.
Facilitators should:
- Use the Light is Life Scout Manual and Facilitator Guide
- Hold all scheduled sessions
- Facilitate discussion and help participants stay on track
- Review the Scout Manual as each Scout progresses through the program
- Sign and date the certification of completion for each step
- Look for evidence of spiritual growth as the Scout moves through the program
- Keep the unit Religious Emblems Coordinator informed of the Scout’s progress, if applicable
- Follow all Scouting America Youth Protection and eparchial or diocesan safe environment requirements for in-person and virtual meetings
In-person and virtual sessions must follow Scouting America’s two-deep leadership requirements and all applicable eparchial or diocesan safe environment policies.
Program Completion
After all sections of the Light is Life Scout Manual have been completed, the facilitator should contact the eparchial Scout chaplain or Eparchial Catholic Committee on Scouting for information about the final review process and presentation instructions.
The final review gives the Scout an opportunity to reflect on their experience, share what they have learned, and discuss how the program has helped them grow in faith.
After the final review has been completed successfully, the facilitator should contact the Eparchial Catholic Committee on Scouting for instructions about approval, ordering, and presentation of the emblem.
Scouts who earn this emblem are also eligible to wear the Scouting America religious emblem square knot on their uniform. Families should check with their Eparchial Catholic Committee on Scouting to learn how knots are presented locally. If the square knot is not presented with the emblem, it may be purchased at a local Scouting America Council Service Center Scout Shop with proof that the Scout received the emblem.
Earning the Light is Life emblem also fulfills one of the requirements needed to apply for the annual Catholic Scouting America/NCCS College Scholarship program.
Ordering of Emblems
Each eparchy has one or more authorized individuals who may order Catholic religious emblems. Only authorized eparchial submitters may order emblems.
Families, units, and parishes should not order emblems directly unless instructed to do so by their Eparchial Catholic Committee on Scouting.
Presentation
Recognition ceremonies should be simple, meaningful, and focused on the young people who earned the emblem.
Many eparchies present religious emblems at a parish church, cathedral, Divine Liturgy, prayer service, Scout Award celebration, or other Catholic Scouting event. The important thing is to make the presentation special and memorable for the Scout and family.
Please contact your Eparchial Catholic Committee on Scouting to learn when and where the next award ceremony will be held.
The religious emblem square knot may be presented at a court of honor or together with the emblem, according to local practice.
