Scout Ella Joyce of Troop 2019-Burlington receives the Ad Altare Dei religious emblem from Bishop Dennis Walsh following a scouting Mass Jan. 25 at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Davenport.
By Anne Marie Amacher
The Catholic Messenger
DAVENPORT — Scouting America (formerly Boy Scouts of America), American Heritage Girls and Girl Scouts from throughout the Diocese of Davenport gathered Jan. 25 to celebrate scouting. Bishop Dennis Walsh presided at Mass, then presented religious emblems and medals in a ceremony afterward at Sacred Heart Cathedral.
Bishop Walsh congratulated the scouts for their honors and awards. “This is something to celebrate,” he said.
In his homily, the bishop recalled that when he was in seminary, a hiking trip to Mount Washington in Vermont was offered. That mountain had the highest elevation on the East Coast and was dangerous. “More people die climbing Mount Washington than any other in our country. Some have been blown off because it is very windy.”
On the trip, the seminarians came to a fork in the road. They were told they could take the paved and much easier road up high, or take the other, a narrow, rocky path “with gorgeous views.” Bishop decided to take the harder trail. “There was a beautiful view from there.”
He pointed out that like in the Gospel, there are different paths to choose. Jesus says to Simon (Peter) and his brother, Andrew, who were casting nets, to come and follow him. To James and John, who were mending their nets, Jesus once again called to them to follow him. All four answered the call to follow Jesus.
Bishop Walsh told the scouts and family members that Jesus calls us by name. “It’s not a general invite. He calls us to follow him.”
“We have choices to make,” the bishop said. “We can drop our nets and follow.” He noted that at times, people aren’t ready to drop their nets. “What is preventing you from following him?”
“At the fork in the road we can take the easy path or the rocky path,” Bishop Walsh said. “The Lord loves us. We need to follow him. Your life will change if you drop your net and follow him.”
Following Mass, Bishop Walsh blessed the religious emblems, medals and patches earned by dozens of scouts.
For Scouting America scouts, awards for Light of Christ (ages 6-7 in Cub Scouts), Parvuli Dei (ages 8-10 in Cub Scouts), Ad Altare Dei — To the Altar of God (any Catholic youth is Scouts BSA troops or crews) and Pope Pius XII (for Venture Crew or scouts ages 15 and up) were presented. Names of each scout who earned the religious emblem were read and they received the award from bishop.
Adult recognition included the Bronze Pelican to Janet Willett and Brian Girskis Jr. and the St. George Emblem to Julia Jones.
Willett has been involved in scouting since 2017 when her son joined Cub Scouts. When the family moved to Bettendorf in 2021, she continued to help with scouting and learned about Catholic scouting, which she had not experienced before. Today, she helps as assistant scoutmaster with Troop 199 (boys) and Troop 1199 (girls). “I have a son in Troop 199 (Paul, who is an Eagle Scout) and three daughters in Troop 1199 (Twins Carolyn and Julia, who completed their Eagle projects and are awaiting their Eagle Board of Review, and Lydia, who is already thinking of her Eagle project),” she said.
Willett learned about the award when she saw it posted on Facebook.
“I wasn’t even aware my name was submitted,” she said. “What a blessing I have in such supportive troop leaders. I’m so grateful that they too are passionate about Catholic scouting and have provided me an opportunity to be a part of teaching it. This is such a fabulous program.”
Girskis himself was a Cub Scout and loved the program earning his Arrow of Light in 1991. He left scouting shortly after crossing over to Boy Scouts (now Scouts BSA). “I have a few regrets in life. I regret quitting scouting as a youth. I didn’t attain the rank of Eagle.”
He rejoined scouting when his son Jack was in first grade with Cub Scouts and got involved in Pack leadership. “I enjoyed helping guide the cubs, and helping mold them into leaders at the troop level is the most rewarding,” Girskis said. He primarily works with Pack 199, Troop 199 and Troop 1199.
His wife Kristine is the Cubmaster for Pack 199. Jack is an Eagle Scout who just aged out of scouting but joined as an assistant scoutmaster. Daughter Kate is a Life Scout with Troop 1199, Paige is a Webelos and Annie a Lion scout.
“I was surprised too to hear about this (award) from Denise McMonagle who notified me shortly after the last Diocesan Council of Catholic Scouting meeting. I thought there were others more deserving than me, but I’m very grateful for the acknowledgment of our Catholic scouting goals.” He earned the Silver Beaver Award in 2023.
“I would like to thank those who help with Catholic emblems. As parents and adult leaders, the running joke in scouts is, ‘it’s only an hour a week.’ Well religious emblems alone can be 1-2 hours a week and take 6-12 months to complete depending on the program and youth involvement. So I’m very thankful for all the leaders that make emblem program happen.”
Jones is the committee chair for Pack 203 in Long Grove and a volunteer with Troop 828 in Davenport. “I have 3 sons in scouting. My oldest is 15 and working on his Eagle. He started as a Tiger 8 years ago with Pack 828 (no longer operating). When my 2nd son began as a kindergartener, I was his Den leader for a couple years. He is about to bridge into Troop 828 to join his older brother. Then we moved in 2021 and joined Pack 203 and I took over as committee chair. My youngest son is a Bear. I also have a young daughter that is looking forward to starting Girl Scouts in the fall. That will be a change of pace for us, but I’m excited to explore that program as well with her.”
When her oldest expressed interest in scouting, she wanted to support him by volunteering. That led to his fellow siblings following his footsteps.
“I believe that scouting is a great program to teach young people about leadership as well as self-reliance. It’s promoted as a way to get kids into the outdoors, but it’s veiled in all these lessons along the way that develop young people into reliable adults. I love that honoring our Creator is woven into everything as well. When you hear about a scout being reverent, it’s not just about worship. It’s about teaching young people to be respectful of everything God created. People included.”
Jones received a phone call about the award. “It feels weird to receive the award, honestly. I truly love what I do, and when you feel blessed to find your calling in life, you don’t do it to be recognized to receive awards. I’ve just been doing what I feel is right.”
Also at the event, American Heritage Girls earned Catholic Faith Awards which included badges and/or medals: Eucharistic Jubilee badges (ages 5-6), To God and My Family (ages 6-9), God and My Country (ages 9-12), God and my Community (ages 12-14) and Woman of Integrity (ages 15-18).
