Catholic Scouting America

10/23/2026

The Joyful Mysteries help Scouts see that following God is lived out in ordinary choices: saying yes to what is right, serving others, welcoming Christ, offering their gifts, and seeking wisdom. Pope John Paul II said that meditating on these mysteries brings Scouts toward the deeper meaning of Christian joy, centered on Jesus Christ.

The Annunciation: Be ready to say yes.
At the Annunciation, Mary accepts God’s call. A Scout can reflect on how to respond faithfully when asked to do something good but difficult: keep a promise, admit a mistake, include someone who is left out, or take responsibility for a task. Mary’s example encourages a willing, thoughtful “yes” to God—not just in big decisions, but in everyday moments.

The Visitation: Turn faith into service.
Mary goes to Elizabeth, and their meeting is marked by joy. This mystery can remind Scouts that faith is not meant to stay private or abstract: it moves us toward people who may need help, companionship, or encouragement. A Scout might ask, “Who could use my time or attention today?”

The Nativity: Welcome Christ and make room for others.
In the Nativity, Jesus comes into the world in humble circumstances. Scouts can reflect on being grateful rather than constantly wanting more, and on making others feel welcome - especially someone new or overlooked. Pope Leo XIII highlights the Holy Family’s simplicity, humility, patient work, and care for one another as examples to learn from. These virtues can be practiced in a tent, at a troop gathering, at home, or wherever Scouts share work and resources.

The Presentation: Offer your gifts in service.
Mary and Joseph present Jesus in the Temple, offering him to God. This mystery can invite Scouts to ask how they can offer their own abilities, time, and effort for something good. A Scout’s skills - whether leadership, practical know-how, creativity, or simply being dependable - can become ways to serve others. The mystery also reminds Scouts that a faithful life includes trust and commitment, not only enthusiasm.

The Finding in the Temple: Keep seeking wisdom.
When Mary and Joseph find Jesus in the Temple, they are anxious and do not immediately understand what has happened. Jesus is listening and asking questions. Scouts can learn that growing in faith includes paying attention, asking honest questions, and seeking wisdom rather than pretending to know everything. This mystery also offers a reminder to keep God at the center while honoring family, leaders, and responsibilities.

Praying these mysteries connects a Scout’s faith with daily Scout life. Pope John Paul II encouraged Scouts to let Marian prayer, including the Rosary, renew their memory of Christ and help bring faith and “real life” closer together. The mysteries do not replace service or good action; they can help form the heart and attention from which those actions grow.

Earn the Joyful Mysteries patch today: https://catholicscoutingamerica.org/download/joyful-mysteries/ or in Spanishhttps://catholicscoutingamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Ros-Misterios-Gozosos.pdf

10/22/2026

Pope John Paul II is a good role model for Scouts because he connected the Scout way of life with faithfulness, service, courage, responsibility, and care for others.

He took the Scout Oath seriously.
John Paul II described a Scout’s oath as a commitment to be faithful to God, to become the person God calls you to be, and to give yourself in service to your neighbor. He said the Scout Law helps Scouts live that commitment. For a Scout, that can mean being dependable in a patrol, honest when it is difficult, and willing to do one’s part even when nobody is watching.

He made service the heart of Scouting.
John Paul II repeatedly emphasized service—not as a once-in-a-while project, but as a way of life. In 2004, he urged older Scouts to make “to serve” their life’s motto, explaining that giving yourself for others makes life beautiful and fruitful. This is a strong Scout ideal: service is not about recognition, awards, or getting something in return. It is about noticing who needs help and responding.

He encouraged courage and perseverance.
John Paul II praised Scouting as a place to train in difficult virtues. He challenged Scout leaders not to offer young people merely comfortable or mediocre ideals, but to point them toward courage, holiness, and the example of Christ. It can mean doing the right thing when friends make fun of it, accepting responsibility after a mistake, or continuing to help when a task is tiring.

He kept Christ at the center.
John Paul II did not present himself—or any human role model—as the ultimate model for Scouts. He pointed them to Jesus. He encouraged Catholic Scouting to offer young people “Christ as the model of a perfectly fulfilled human life” and as the way to happiness.

In summary, John Paul II is a good role model for Scouts because he challenged them to keep their promises, serve generously, persevere in what is right, care for others and creation, and follow Jesus.

Learn more about Saint John Paul II: https://catholicscoutingamerica.org/religious-activities/modern-saint-series/

10/21/2026

Praying the Rosary can help Scouts connect their faith with the way they live their Scout Oath: by remembering Christ, learning from his example, and asking Mary to help them follow him. It is not merely repeating prayers; it joins spoken prayer to meditation on important events in Jesus’ life.

It forms character by teaching Christ’s example.

As Scouts reflect on the Rosary’s mysteries, they consider Christ’s life, suffering, and victory. Pope Pius XII wrote that frequent meditation on these mysteries gradually helps a person absorb the virtues they contain and become more ready to follow Christ’s path.
For a Scout, the Rosary does not automatically make someone virtuous, but it gives Scouts a regular way to think about what faithful, loving action looks like—and to ask God for the grace to live it.

It brings prayer into everyday Scout life.

The Rosary can also help Scouts pause, focus, and bring their plans and worries to God. In 2003, Pope John Paul II made this connection directly in a message to Scouts. He hoped Marian prayer, including the Rosary, would renew their memory of Christ’s Redemption and strengthen their Scout commitment. He described scouting as a means of holiness that can foster “a more intimate union between real life and your faith.”

It helps faith grow and turns attention toward Christ.

The Rosary is Marian prayer, but its central focus is Jesus: the mysteries recall the work of salvation accomplished by Christ, while Mary is honored as his mother and asked to intercede. So, for Scouts, the Rosary can be a way to grow in faith, patience, and reflection; to remember that service and integrity belong in ordinary life; and to seek Mary’s help in following her Son. It can be prayed individually or together, at a troop meeting or on a campout, without making it a test of anyone’s faith or a substitute for the rest of Christian life.

Earn the Pray the Rosary patch today: https://catholicscoutingamerica.org/download/pray-the-rosary/

10/19/2026

St. Isaac Jogues is a compelling role model for Scouts because his life embodied core tenets of the Scout Oath and Law—particularly courage, duty, perseverance, and self-sacrificing service.

Key Virtues and Lessons for Scouts

• Perseverance and Resilience ("A Scout is Brave")
As a North American Jesuit missionary he was captured and tortured. Jogues managed to escape back to France. Instead of remaining safe, he voluntarily chose to return to North America to continue his work. He demonstrates that physical hardships or severe setbacks do not have to define or halt one's mission.
• Selfless Service to Others ("To help other people at all times")
During his initial capture, Jogues had opportunities to flee, but he intentionally stayed behind with fellow captives to ensure they were not left without support and comfort. He consistently put the needs and well-being of others ahead of his own comfort and safety.
• Outdoor Mastery and Exploration
As one of the North American Martyrs, Jogues navigated harsh wilderness conditions, traveled thousands of miles by canoe and foot across rugged territory, and adapted to severe frontier life. His life reflects rugged self-reliance and outdoor endurance foundational to Scouting skills.
• Peace-Building and Moral Courage
Later in life, Jogues accepted a dangerous diplomatic mission to negotiate peace with the very people who had previously held him captive. He showed that true bravery often means extending an olive branch and seeking reconciliation, even when it requires immense personal risk.
• Faithful Commitment
For Catholic or faith-based Scout units, his unwavering dedication to his duty to God serves as a powerful example of living out religious principles with conviction and integrity under extreme pressure.

Scouts, Scouters and family can learn about Isaac Jogues and earn the religious activity patch here: https://catholicscoutingamerica.org/download/isaac-jogues/

10/16/2026

Care for creation is fundamental to Catholic Scouting. Laudato Si is not just a document it is a roadmap for us to follow in fulfilling our Duty to God. Enjoy this great excerpt from a homily given by Father Jeffrey Shooner of the Archdiocese of Louisville.

Learn more about Laudato Si through this Catholic Scouting America Religious Activity: https://catholicscoutingamerica.org/download/laudato-si/

Father Jeffrey P. Shooner writes,
"One of my favorite places on Earth is a place called Philmont Scout Ranch in northern New Mexico. I’ve been through the mountains, observing the beauty of the wildlife, the grand landscapes and the intimate details of nature. Once, a hummingbird landed on my finger and perched there for a moment. It was amazing.

My most powerful memory of Philmont was being away from all the lights of society out in the middle of nowhere and seeing the Milky Way. I saw not just individual stars, but the grand swath of our galaxy through the sky. I was astounded by it and unexpectedly moved to tears. That view inspired a deep sense of wonder and awe.

Caring for creation doesn’t begin with guilt or a call for responsibility. It begins with that sense of wonder and awe."

Column: https://therecordnewspaper.org/care-for-creation-begin-with-a-sense-of-wonder-and-awe/

10/14/2026

Discover Faith & Tradition with the Light is Life Emblem! ✨

Are you raising a Scout who belongs to an Eastern Catholic Church? The Light is Life religious emblem is a unique, deeply meaningful program tailored specifically to honor the rich liturgical, spiritual, and theological traditions of Eastern Catholicism!
Designed for members of Scouts BSA, Venturing, and Sea Scouts (ages 12–13+), Light is Life serves as the Eastern Catholic counterpart to Ad Altare Dei, guiding youth to develop a fully Christian way of life within their faith community.

Why encourage your Scout to embark on this journey?
• Deepens Eastern Traditions: Helps Scouts grow in their relationship with God while embracing the heritage, prayers, and customs of their Eastern Catholic parish.
• Mentorship & Spiritual Growth: Completed with an approved facilitator, encouraging thoughtful discussions, journal reflection, and regular participation in the Divine Liturgy or Holy Qurbana.
• Uniform & College Recognition: Earns the emblem medal, the official Scouting America religious square knot, and helps fulfill eligibility for Catholic Scouting college scholarships!

Talk with your parish priest, unit leader, or Eparchial Catholic Committee on Scouting to connect with a trained facilitator and pick up the Light is Life Scout Manual through the Catholic Scouting America store. https://nccsshop.org/product/light-is-life-record-book/

Help your Scout shine the light of Christ in their faith community!
Have Questions? Contact your local Diocesan Catholic Committee https://catholicscoutingamerica.org/download/diocesan-catholic-committee-contacts/

10/13/2026

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 15 college scholarships totaling $43,500 for 2027.

The application portal is now open!

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

Catholic Scouting USA

10/12/2026

What can Saint Carlo Acutis teach our Scouts today?

Saint Carlo Acutis showed us that holiness doesn’t require waiting until adulthood and that everyday talents become extraordinary gifts when used in service to others!
Here is how his life models the core virtues of Catholic Scouting:
• Using Skills for Service: Carlo used his gift for technology to create an online exhibition of Eucharistic miracles and help classmates in need. Whether it’s outdoor survival, coding, first aid, or leadership, a Scout’s talent becomes a true gift when it serves the troop and community.
• Noticing the Overlooked: Carlo made a point to care for those living on the margins—the poor, the elderly, and the homeless—listening to them and treating everyone with dignity. That is Scouting service in action: noticing who needs help and welcoming all with respect.
• Courage to Stand Firm: Carlo lived his faith boldly, even when it meant swimming against the stream. Scouts can imitate his courage by standing up to bullying, choosing honesty, and doing what is right regardless of peer pressure.
• Faith in Daily Life: For Carlo, faith wasn't confined to Sunday Mass. It shaped how he played sports, used technology, treated friends, and served others.

You don't have to wait until you are older to make a difference. Be faithful in ordinary life, use your gifts generously, and look for Christ in everyone you meet!

Earn the Carlo Acutis religious activity patch here: https://catholicscoutingamerica.org/religious-activities/modern-saint-series/.

Scouts & Leaders: How can your patrol use your unique skills to serve your parish or community this month? Share your ideas below!

10/11/2026

Looking for a meaningful way to grow in faith together? ✨

The Rosary Series from Catholic Scouting America offers youth, adult leaders, and families a unique opportunity to explore the Mysteries of the Holy Rosary while earning commemorative patches!

Here’s why your Scout or family should participate:
Deepen Your Faith & Scripture Knowledge — Connect each Mystery directly to Scripture and learn the history and spiritual power behind traditional Catholic devotions.
Strengthen Family Bonds — Designed for all age levels so parents, grandparents, and youth can pray, learn, and earn patches together at home.
Open to Everyone — Fully inclusive for Scouts and non-Scouts, Catholic and non-Catholic youth and adults alike. Work at your own pace individually or as a unit!
Live Your "Duty to God" — Put Scouting values into practice in a tangible, rewarding way that brings prayer into daily life.

There are five activity patches available: Pray the Rosary, Joyful Mysteries, Luminous Mysteries, Sorrowful Mysteries, and Glorious Mysteries.

Learn more about eligibility and download requirement guides at Catholic Scouting America's Rosary Series https://catholicscoutingamerica.org/religious-activities/rosary-series/

10/09/2026

Empower Your Scout to Explore God's Call with the Pope Pius XII Emblem! ✨

Is your older Scout, considering their future and looking to deepen their Catholic faith? The Pope Pius XII religious emblem is a youth-led, discussion-based program designed specifically for high school-age Scouts BSA, Venturers, and Sea Scouts!
This unique emblem guides young Catholic men and women to explore vocations, states of life (single life, marriage, religious life, and ordained ministry), and Christian service in Church and society.
Why encourage your Scout to earn it?
• Discern Vocation & Ministry: Helps youth examine current issues in the Church and society, reflect on their personal gifts, and discern how God is calling them to serve.
• Youth-Led & Community-Focused: Participants lead group discussions, conduct interviews, complete a ministry service project, and engage in a spiritual retreat experience guided by an approved facilitator.
• Uniform & Scholarship Eligibility: Earns the emblem medal, the official Scouting America religious square knot, and helps fulfill requirements for Catholic Scouting America college scholarships!
Talk with your parish leader, unit committee, or Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting to connect with a trained facilitator, and order the Pope Pius XII Participant Manual from the Catholic Scouting America Store to get started. https://nccsshop.org/product/pope-pius-xii-participant-manual-2026/

Help your Scout take ownership of their faith and discover their life’s calling!

Have Questions? Contact your local Diocesan Catholic Committee https://catholicscoutingamerica.org/download/diocesan-catholic-committee-contacts/