ABOVE: From left, Father Stephen Wirkes, pastor at St. Mary of the Assumption in Minoa, Amelia Broedel, and her parents, Lorie Broedel and Jeffrey Broedel. Sun photo
Local Scout earns Parvuli Dei religious emblem
By Elizabeth Landry, staff writer
A special occasion took place just before the end of Mass at St. Mary of the Assumption Church in Minoa on June 29. Amelia Broedel, along with her parents, Lorie and Jeffrey Broedel, joined Father Stephen Wirkes near the altar for the presentation of the Parvuli Dei (“Children of God”) award and emblem. Dressed in her Scouting America uniform, Amelia smiled as Fr. Wirkes addressed the congregation and offered his congratulations to her for her achievement. Shortly after, Lorie pinned the emblem on her daughter’s uniform. The family belongs to St. Mary’s in Minoa.
Lorie shared that Amelia has been involved with Scouting America (previously known as the Boy Scouts of America) since she was in kindergarten. A member of Pack 210 in Kirkville, Amelia is now in fifth grade.
“She enjoys [being a Scout]. The volunteer work, walking in parades, camping, learning outdoor skills, how to take care of yourself — she enjoys it,” Lorie said.
Lorie Broedel pins the Parvuli Dei emblem on her daughter’s Scouting uniform. Sun photo
To receive the Parvuli Dei award and emblem, Amelia completed an activity book this past January, which she worked on over several months with the help and guidance of her parents. The award, presented to Catholic Scouts in grades three through five, is a part of the religious emblems program administered by the National Catholic Committee on Scouting (NCCS), an affiliate of the USCCB. With Scouting America, the NCCS works to promote the Scouting program as a form of Catholic youth ministry and strengthen the relationship between Scouting America and the Catholic Church. The purpose of the Parvuli Dei program is to help Cub Scouts explore a wide range of activities to discover the presence of God in their daily lives as members of their families and parishes, and also to develop a good, positive self-image through the contributions they can make to their family, pack, and community.
Monsignor James P. Lang, the diocesan chaplain for Scouting, explained how the basis for the Parvuli Dei program is a project the family works on together, and that the religious formation of the Scout goes hand-in-hand with faith formation going on in the classroom.
“We’ve always got some kind of religious formation going on in the [Scouting] program. The early part of the award system is put together on the thought that the preparation for it begins as a family project,” Monsignor said.
The family project allows participants to engage in a program that parallels the learning that happens in both schools and faith formation settings.
“The two are thought to join with each other in terms of looking forward. … There are family activities and then there are activities that you go through with a counselor who’s generally a priest or a deacon, and [Scouts] learn about the day-to-day life of a parish, and the basic theology of the Church,” he added. Monsignor’s approval is needed for any Scout in the Diocese to receive such recognition.
Learning more about her faith through the Parvuli Dei program is something Amelia was excited about — as her mother shared, “She enjoyed it because it was just a continuation [of] what she’s learning [in faith formation].”
Edwin Theetge, Scout Executive/CEO of Longhouse Council, said that “being a Scout in Scouting America provides a structured, values-based environment that supports a child’s personal growth and development.” He explained that through hands-on activities, service projects, and outdoor adventures, Scouts learn character and leadership, life skills, teamwork and citizenship, resilience and problem-solving, and respect for others and nature. Remarking on the Parvuli Dei award, Theetge said, “It’s an important milestone that reinforces the connection between faith, family, and Scouting values,” noting that the program fosters spiritual growth, faith in action, and recognition of commitment.
The presentation of the Parvuli Dei award to Amelia is an important milestone not just for the Broedel family, but also for the wider Scouting community in her pack and within the Diocese at large — this is the first award of its kind to be presented to a member of Pack 210 in over 25 years. Both Monsignor Lang and Theetge expressed hope that other faithful youth will follow in Amelia’s footsteps.
“Amelia took the initiative to explore her faith through the Religious Emblems program. The program isn’t very well-known to Scouts, and therefore isn’t taken advantage of as much as it should be. We hope more Scouts will follow Amelia’s example,” said Theetge.
Monsignor Lang offered a message of encouragement to Amelia, saying, “We are so excited about you becoming a Parvuli Dei — show it to your friends!”
Parvuli Dei Program Objectives:
- To help the Scout develop an awareness of God’s love for each one of His special, unique created beings
- To help the Scout become aware and understand his/her identity as an important member of his/her family, his/her community, and as a member of the Family of God
- To continue to develop an awareness as members of the parish and the Body of Christ
- To aid the Scout in his/her awareness of the responsibilities that grow out of God’s love for us
