About the Emblem
The Pope Pius XII emblem helps older Catholic Scouts explore vocations, states of life, and ministries in the Church as calls from God. The program invites participants to reflect on single life, marriage, religious life, ordained ministry, and other forms of Christian service.
The program is discussion-based and youth-led. Participants explore current issues facing the Church and society, complete interviews, reflect on ministry, and consider how God may be calling them to serve.
Program Objectives
The Pope Pius XII program is designed to help participants:
- Explore vocation as a call from God
- Learn more about different states of life and ministries in the Church
- Reflect on their own gifts, interests, and sense of call
- Discuss current issues facing the Church and society in a thoughtful Catholic context
- Grow in faith, leadership, responsibility, and Christian service
Eligibility
The Pope Pius XII emblem is for Catholic young people who are registered in Scouts BSA, Venturing, or Sea Scouts.
The program is designed especially for young people who are 15 or 16 years old. Registered Venturers and Sea Scouts may participate before their 21st birthday. Registered Scouts BSA members may participate while in high school and before their 18th birthday.
Requirements
Each participant must have their own Pope Pius XII Participant Manual. The manual is available only from the Catholic Scouting America/NCCS Online Store.
The program should be led by the participants themselves. An approved adult facilitator accompanies the group, helps keep discussions focused, and ensures that program requirements are completed.
A trained religious emblems facilitator is required for this program.
All diocesan or eparchial safe environment requirements and Scouting America Youth Protection policies must be followed.
The ideal group size is four to twelve participants, although the program may be completed with smaller groups when necessary.
The program includes:
- Group discussions
- Personal reflection
- Interviews
- An investigation of a current issue facing the Church or society
- A ministry service project
- A spiritual formation experience, such as a day of reflection, day of recollection, or other approved experience connected to the program
- A final review conversation
The program is usually completed in nine to twelve sessions. Two-hour sessions often work well for this age group, but flexibility may be needed because of participants’ schedules, interviews, service work, and group discussion.
Getting Started
The participant should identify an approved facilitator before beginning the program. Families or participants may ask their unit leader, pastor, parish administrator, religious education director, unit committee, or Diocesan or Eparchial Catholic Committee on Scouting whether there is a trained facilitator in their parish or area.
Adults interested in becoming facilitators should contact their Diocesan or Eparchial Catholic Committee on Scouting for training and approval. If no Catholic Committee on Scouting exists in the diocese or eparchy, contact the Catholic Scouting America/NCCS Religious Emblems Committee Chair for guidance.
Before beginning the program, the participant must complete the application included in the Pope Pius XII Participant Manual. The application must be signed by the applicant, parent or guardian, facilitator, unit leader, and pastor.
Participant’s Role
Participants should:
- Attend all scheduled sessions
- Actively take part in group discussions
- Complete all interviews, activities, reflections, and written work
- Help lead the program with the other participants
- Complete the ministry service project
- Take part in the required spiritual formation experience
- Keep the unit Religious Emblems Coordinator informed of their progress, if applicable
- Be prepared to share what they have learned during the final review conversation
Written work should be legible, thoughtful, and completed with care.
Facilitator’s Role
The facilitator accompanies participants through the Pope Pius XII program. The facilitator is not the group leader in the ordinary sense. The program is meant to be youth-led. The facilitator helps form the group, keeps the process moving, supports discussion, and helps participants focus on the essential questions of vocation, ministry, service, and Catholic life.
Facilitators for the Pope Pius XII emblem should be approved in advance by their pastor and by the diocesan or eparchial Scout chaplain or Catholic Committee on Scouting.
The Pope Pius XII Facilitator Manual is an essential resource for this program. Facilitator manuals are available only from the Catholic Scouting America/NCCS Online Store.
All facilitators must have current Scouting America Youth Protection Training and meet diocesan or eparchial safe environment requirements.
Facilitators should:
- Form the group
- Help participants understand the purpose and structure of the program
- Support youth-led discussion
- Keep sessions focused and on track
- Help each participant focus on essential elements and important issues
- Ensure that interviews, activities, the issue investigation, and the ministry service project are completed
- Keep the unit Religious Emblems Coordinator informed of each participant’s progress, if applicable
- Follow all Scouting America Youth Protection and diocesan or eparchial safe environment requirements for in-person and virtual meetings
Program Completion
After all sections of the Pope Pius XII Participant Manual have been completed, the facilitator should contact the Diocesan or Eparchial Catholic Committee on Scouting for information about the final review process.
The final review conversation gives participants an opportunity to reflect on their experience, share what they have learned, and discuss how the program has helped them grow in faith, leadership, service, and vocational awareness.
After the final review has been completed successfully, the facilitator should contact the Diocesan or Eparchial Catholic Committee on Scouting for instructions about approval, ordering, and presentation of the emblem.
Participants who earn this emblem are also eligible to wear the Scouting America religious emblem square knot on their uniform. Families should check with their Diocesan or 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 participant received the emblem.
Participants and facilitators are encouraged to complete the program evaluation so Catholic Scouting America/NCCS can continue improving the program.
Ordering of Emblems
Each diocese or eparchy has one or more authorized individuals who may order Catholic religious emblems. Only authorized diocesan or eparchial submitters may order emblems.
Families, units, and parishes should not order emblems directly unless instructed to do so by their Diocesan or Eparchial Catholic Committee on Scouting.
Presentation
Recognition ceremonies should be simple, meaningful, and focused on the young people who earned the emblem.
Many dioceses and eparchies present religious emblems at a cathedral, parish church, Scout Award Mass, prayer service, or other Catholic Scouting celebration. The important thing is to make the presentation special and memorable for the participant and family.
Please contact your Diocesan or 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.
