Girls and boys from throughout the Diocese of Venice participated in Mass on May 17, 2026, Ascension Sunday, at Our Lady of Light Parish in Fort Myers, wearing the uniforms of their Scout troops.
Designated as “Scouting Sunday,” the Mass was followed by an award ceremony in the Parish Hall to celebrate and recognize the girls and boys who commit themselves to scouting while remaining true to the Faith. Members of Scouting America and American Heritage Girls (AHG) participated in the ceremony.
During the Award Ceremony and reception, Bishop Frank J. Dewane presented dozens of Scouting Religious Awards, with some Scouts receiving multiple honors.
Bishop Dewane told the Scouts that it is his prayer that the awards will continually give them encouragement to grow in their relationship with the Lord.
Catholic Scouting offers the opportunity for young people to grow in virtue, develop moral character, and to promote care for God’s creation,” Bishop Dewane said. “Participation in these programs is a powerful tool for evangelization and service as well as an act of discipline that strengthens body, mind, and soul. Most importantly, it provides opportunities to grow closer to Jesus Christ.”
The awards earned from the National Catholic Committee on Scouting (NCCS) Religious Activities Awards included: Modern Saints Series, Rosary Series, Marian Series, Faith Series, and American Saints Series. Diocesan Scout Awards included: Child of God, Mother Mary, and Queen of the Rosary. American Heritage Girls Scouting Awards included: Tenderheart Faith, Explorer Faith, International Awareness Activity, Luminous Mysteries Activity, Martyrs of Canada, U.S., and Mexico Activity Patch (Heritage Series), and Our Lady of Guadalupe Activity (Marian Series). The Catholic Scouting America award included: Parvuli Dei.
Each award requires the Scout to participate in different activities which help increase their Faith. The awards become more difficult to earn as the Scout advances.
Additional awards were presented during the ceremony to adult Scouting leaders. The Pray the Rosary Activity Patch (Rosary Series), part of the five-part Rosary Series offered by the National Catholic Committee on Scouting (NCCS), was presented to Megan Van Wart, Scouting America Troop 2001G. The St. George Emblem, a prestigious national adult recognition in Scouting America that honors individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the spiritual development of youth, was presented to Dr. Monica Woodward, Scouting America Troop 2001.
At the conclusion of the awards ceremony, Bishop Frank J. Dewane was presented with a 100th anniversary Ad Altare Dei neckerchief and patch, which features the historic emblem first establish in 1926 in tribute to the oldest Catholic religious emblem program.
Adam Van Wart, a member of the Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting, offered a status of Scouting in the Diocese and recognized the efforts of Bishop Dewane as a champion of Catholic Scouting during his 20 years as Shepherd of the Diocese of Venice.
Also participating in the ceremony was Jim Gontis, Diocesan Director of Evangelization, and Andres Prias, Diocesan Director of Youth and Young Adult Outreach.
