Diocese of Davenport Catholic Committee on Scouting

09/10/2026

Saint to Celebrate in September

Every month in the Catholic Scouting Wire, we feature information about saints you may wish to share with Scouts.

Religious Activities are a great way to learn more about our Catholic faith through the lives of these saints.

This month we would like to highlight Saint Teresa of Calcutta who made service the center of her life. Jesus taught, “Whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant” (Mk 10:43). Saint Teresa lived this teaching by dedicating herself to people who were poor, sick, abandoned, or forgotten. Pope John Paul II described her as someone who chose not only to be among the least, but to become “the servant of the least.”

Share this religious activity with your scouts.

Saint Teresa of Calcutta is a strong role model for scouts because she lived the values of service, compassion, courage, leadership, perseverance, and respect for every person. Her life shows that even small acts of kindness can become a powerful witness to God’s love. She can inspire scouts to ask three questions:

Who is being overlooked?
What practical help can I offer?
Can I do this with love, even if no one notices?

https://catholicscoutingamerica.org/religious-activities/modern-saint-series/

09/10/2026

Do you know a Catholic Scout who has demonstrated leadership, service, and a commitment to living their faith? Encourage them to apply for a National Catholic Committee on Scouting (NCCS) College Scholarship.

Online applications for the 2027 NCCS College Scholarship Program are now open. This year, Catholic Scouting America will award 15 scholarships totaling $41,500 to Scouts who are graduating high school seniors registered in a Scouting America program who plan to continue their education after graduation.

In addition, one $2,000 St. Katharine Drexel Continuing Education Scholarship will be awarded to a previous NCCS scholarship recipient who is currently enrolled in college and remains actively involved in service to his or her parish, diocese, campus ministry, or community.

The NCCS Scholarship Program recognizes young men and women who exemplify the values of Scouting and the Catholic faith through service to their parish, school, community, and Scouting. These awards support the next generation of Catholic leaders who are already making a positive impact.

Scholarship opportunities such as these are only successful when local leaders help spread the word. Please share this information with eligible Scouts, families, chaplains, religious emblems coordinators, and unit leaders in your area. A simple conversation or recommendation could help a deserving Scout take the next step toward achieving their educational goals.

View scholarship details, eligibility requirements, and application materials: https://catholicscoutingamerica.org/college-scholarships/

Help us recognize and support the outstanding Catholic Scouts of today as they prepare to become the faith-filled leaders of tomorrow.

08/31/2026

08/28/2026

Check this out!

Looking to help the youth in your troop or pack grow deeper in their faith journey? Your Scout unit needs a Religious Emblem Counselor!

Having a counselor in every unit ensures that Scouts have a direct mentor and clear pathway to earn their Catholic Religious Emblems—whether they are working on Light of Christ, Parvuli Dei, Ad Altare Dei, Light is Life, or Pope Pius XII.

Why Earning Religious Emblems Matters for Scouts:

Faith in Action: Helps Scouts connect the Scout Oath and Law to their everyday Catholic values and personal spiritual life.

Grounded Growth: Offers an age-appropriate structure for youth to learn more about the sacraments, Scripture, and Catholic traditions.

Recognition: Allows Scouts to proudly live their faith and wear the Scouting America Religious Knot on their uniform.

You don't need a degree in theology to serve—just a willing heart and a commitment to guiding young people.

To get started and learn more about counselor training and requirements, reach out to your local Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting today! https://catholicscoutingamerica.org/download/diocesan-catholic-committee-contacts/

08/20/2026

Check this out high school seniors!

Are you or someone you know a service-oriented high school senior who’s Catholic and in a Scouting America program? Great news! Catholic Scouting America is awarding 16 college scholarships totaling $43,500 for 2027. The application portal will open online September 1.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity—learn more and check out the requirements here: https://catholicscoutingamerica.org/college-scholarships/

08/19/2026

Check this out!

*Military Service Knot Now Available*
Are you active duty, reserve or retired military? Want to proudly show your patriotism and loyalty with a BOLD NEW knot??🇺🇸🇺🇸 Come on down to the Illowa Scout Shop, where you can find these very special new knots available TODAY! These knots are not intended for spouses or children, but for the veteran or active service-person. There is no purchase requirement or limit. The proceeds from the sale of these knots directly goes to registration funds for youth of active military families. Help us support Scouts, support youth and support your local militia. Stop in or call us today for more information 🙂🙂

08/14/2026

Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Pray for Us!

Saint Maximilian Kolbe is an excellent role model for scouts because he showed courage, self-sacrifice, service, leadership, faith, and love for every person—virtues that scouts are called to practice in daily life.

He put others before himself. In Auschwitz, Saint Maximilian volunteered to take the place of a fellow prisoner who had been condemned to die. He gave his life so that the other man, a husband and father, could live. Pope John Paul II described this as a heroic act of Christian love and compared it to Christ giving his life for others.

Scouts do not usually face such extreme situations, but the same virtue can be practiced in ordinary ways:
• Helping someone who is struggling
• Sharing equipment or food
• Including someone who feels left out
• Giving time to serve the troop, parish, or community
• Choosing what is best for others rather than always seeking personal advantage

Saint Maximilian teaches that true strength is used to protect and serve others. A scout can learn from his courage by:
• Doing what is right even when it is unpopular
• Speaking up when someone is bullied
• Remaining calm during an emergency
• Persevering when a hike, service project, or skill is difficult
• Refusing hatred, cruelty, or prejudice

Learn more about Saint Maximilian through Catholic Scouting America's religious activity: https://catholicscoutingamerica.org/religious-activities/modern-saint-series/

08/13/2026

Help Spread the Word: NCCS College Scholarship Application Portal Opens September 1 2026

The application period for the 2027 National Catholic Committee on Scouting (NCCS) College Scholarships opens September 1. Please share this opportunity with Scouts who will be high school seniors during the 2026–2027 school year.

Catholic Scouting America awards scholarships each year to Catholic Scouts who demonstrate service, leadership, and faith. A scholarship is also available for past NCCS recipients who are continuing their college studies.

In 2026, NCCS awarded 15 scholarships totaling $40,000. For 2027, a new $3,500 Fortin Education for Service Scholarship will bring the total to 16 awards worth $43,500.

Since 2005, Catholic Scouting America has awarded $348,000 in scholarships to 146 Scouts nationwide, supporting young adults who exemplify faith, service, and leadership as they pursue higher education.

Please help ensure eligible Scouts are aware of this opportunity by sharing scholarship information through your diocesan, council, unit, and parish communications!

For more info https://catholicscoutingamerica.org/college-scholarships/

08/09/2026

Catholic Religious Emblems for Cub Scouts

Catholic religious emblems give Cub Scouts an opportunity to grow in their faith while participating in age-appropriate activities with their families. These programs connect a Scout’s Catholic faith with everyday family life, parish involvement, service, and the values taught through Cub Scouting.

Religious emblems are created and administered by the Catholic Church. They are separate from regular Cub Scout advancement requirements, but Scouting America allows Scouts to wear the recognition on their official uniform after completing the program.

Kindergarten — Lion Cub Scouts

Kindergarten Scouts can begin learning about their duty to God through their family, parish, and Cub Scout activities. The national Catholic religious emblem program begins when a Scout reaches age six. Lion families can use this year to introduce prayer, attend Mass together, participate in parish activities, and prepare for the Light of Christ program.

Light of Christ

The Light of Christ emblem is generally appropriate for Cub Scouts in first and second grades. It helps children develop a personal relationship with Jesus and learn to recognize Jesus as a real person, teacher, and friend.

Parents or guardians work directly with their Scout to complete the activities. The program includes prayer, Bible stories, family conversations, and simple activities that help children understand how Jesus is present in their lives.

Parvuli Dei

The Parvuli Dei emblem, which means “Children of God,” is generally appropriate for Cub Scouts in third through fifth grades. It helps Scouts discover God’s presence in their daily lives and understand how they contribute to their family, Cub Scout pack, parish, school, and community.

Parents or guardians continue to play an essential role. The activities encourage Scouts to explore their gifts, strengthen their relationship with God, and learn how they can serve others.

Getting Started

Families may purchase the appropriate Catholic religious emblem activity booklet at the Scout Shop on Brady Street in Davenport. Be sure to select the booklet that matches the Scout’s age:

Light of Christ for Grades 1-2
Parvuli Dei for Grade 3-5

Before beginning, families should check with their pack’s religious emblems coordinator, parish, or local Catholic Committee on Scouting. These contacts can explain any local requirements, help families complete the proper paperwork, and provide information about obtaining and presenting the emblem.

The programs normally take several weeks to complete, so families should allow enough time to work through the activities thoughtfully. Catholic religious emblems complement—but do not replace—religious education through a Catholic school or parish faith-formation program.

Earning a religious emblem is a meaningful way for Cub Scouts and their families to spend time together, talk about their faith, and put their love of God into action.

08/04/2026

Nice work team!