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BSA Troop 280 Scouts Receive Pope Pius XII Medals at Philadelphia Archdiocese Scout Mass
Boy Scouts from Troop 280 received their awards at the annual Scout Mass celebrated at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul.
Scouts from Troop 280 attended the annual Scout Mass on Saturday, January 30, 2016 at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia.
The Most Reverend Bishop Fitzgerald presented the Pope Pius XII Awards to the scouts who had spent several months exploring different life choices (single, married, religious, ordained), occupations and ministries in the church as calls from God. The exploration included youth led discussions on current issues facing the church and society. Assisting Bishop Fitzgerald, were Eagle Scouts and Bucks County natives, Fr. David Friel (T 52, Doylestown) and seminarian Alex Pancoast (T130, Bensalem) along with Fr. Harold Mc Kale of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel parish in Doylestown.
In addition to the Pope Pius XII Awards, four in the troop were also given the Archdiocese of Philadelphia Scouting Award for completing all four religious emblems available to Catholic scouts. Craig Fox, Matthew Chalupa, Joseph Long and Collin O’Neill had previously been awarded Light of Christ and Parvuli Dei as cub scouts and Ad Altare Dei as boy scouts.
“This Mass has really led me to reflect on how important the Scout’s call to”Duty to God” has been in forming my faith. I have been in scouting a long time. Since my first days as a Cub Scout the Scout Law has become foundational to the way I approach others, including my devotion to God. My scouting and my faith are fully integrated” said Life Scout Collin O’Neill.
Troop 280 is chartered by St. Bede the Venerable Church in Holland. For information about scouting in Washington Crossing Council, please visit http://www.washingtoncrossingbsa.org/
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Pictured, from left to right: Rev. Harold McKale, Parish Vicar, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, Doylestown (previously St. Bede the Venerable Church, Holland); Matt Chalupa, Parishioner of St. Andrew Church; Craig Fox, Parishioner of St. Andrew Church; Collin O’Neill, Parishioner of St. Andrew Church; Tom Cawley,Parishioner of St. Bede the Venerable Church; Jack Swift, Parishioner of St. Bede the Venerable Church; Jacob Leinenbach, Parishioner of St. Bede the Venerable Church. Not pictured: Ethan Himes and Christopher Prazych, Parishoners of St. Bede the Venerable Church and Joseph Long, Parishioner of St. Andrew Church.
