This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Diocese of Lake Charles
LAKE CHARLES — Darnell Taylor, a member of Boy Scouts of America Troop 107, gives credit to the Religious Emblems Program of National Catholic Committee on Scouting for his ability to be the best person he can be.
Taylor shared a testimonial during the Bishop’s Brunch for Religious Emblems Recognition on Saturday, April 2, in the Ave Maria Hall of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. More than 60 were present for the annual event honoring scouts who completed the National Committee on Scouting requirements to earn an emblem.
April 2, about his experience in the Religious
Emblems Program through the Catholic Committee
on Scouting. Taylor was one of three who earned
the Pope Pius XII emblem.
(Photo credit: Morris LeBleu / Diocese of Lake Charles)
“Going through the Religious Emblems Program taught me patience. At times, I was frustrated and didn’t want to do it, but as a good Catholic and a good Scout, I always persevered and made sure I could achieve what I thought was best for me,” said Taylor. The Lake Charles College Prep senior was one of three recipients of the Pope Pius XII emblem that took nearly two years to earn because of multiple storms and the pandemic.
“During the Pope Pius program, we had a few conversations that opened my eyes to the vocation I have been striving for,” Taylor said. “It showed me conflicting views that I would be facing with my career path. I’m still planning to become a doctor, but I see now that the type of doctor I was planning to be is not the best fit in my eyes.”
Taylor thanked his two emblem teachers, Lannie Fuselier and Scott Lounsberry for pushing him to do service projects and for their trust in him.
Following the testimonial, Bishop Glen John Provost was assisted by Rev. Trey Ange with the presentation of 36 awards. Father Ange serves as Chaplain for Catholic Committee on Scouting in the Diocese of Lake Charles.
Youth Awards included God is Love, I Live My Faith, Family of God, Light of Christ, Parvuli Dei, Ad Altare Dei, and Pope Pius XII. Recognition for adults featured the Bronze Pelican and St. George medals.
emblems presentation during the Bishop’s Brunch for
Religious Emblems Recognition on April 2.
(Photo credit: Morris LeBleu / Diocese of Lake Charles)
In addition to these awards, one adult and one youth were honored with the Richard Roy Tireless Servant Award instituted in 2020 in memory of Mr. Roy who passed away on Jan. 21, 2020, at the age of 71. Mr. Roy had a “servant’s heart” with more than 40 years as a leader of Boy Scouts of America Troop 107. The award recognizes those who go above and beyond in the best interest of the scouts.
The adult recipient of the 2021 Richard Roy Tireless Servant Award is Jacob Fontenot, and the youth recipient is Luke Monlezun, who recently achieved his Eagle Scout Award. The 2020 youth recipient, Evan Alderson, was also recognized and presented with his award.
Recognition for youth and their emblems are:
- God is Love — Eden Darbonne and Isabella Mayo. The God is Love program, designed for students in kindergarten through first grade, helps children discover an appreciation that God created, cares for, and loves us all.
- I Live My Faith — McKenna Chesson, Emily Garcille, Clare Knippa, Alexis Rodriguez, Ellie Gage, Santana Hunt, Isabelle Namie, and Ali Williams. The I Live My Faith program for Girl Scouts in grades 4-6 enables the recipient to grow as a Christian and to take her place as an active and responsible member of her family, parish, troop, and community. It is structured on the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
- Family of God — Dreya Cassell, Mary LaFleur, Rosalie Darbonne, and Addy Fay Murphy. The Family of God program is for children in grades 2-3 who are enrolled in the Girl Scouts, Camp Fire, American Heritage Girls, and other Catholic youth organizations. It helps the students discover the presence of God in their daily lives as members of their family and parish.
- Light of Christ — Stephen Tate Camara, Braeden Rodriguez, and Nathan Schultz. The Light of Christ program was developed by the NCCS for Cub Scouts and Tiger Cubs of the Catholic faith. Its purpose is to have scouts develop a relationship with Jesus Christ as a personal friend.
- Parvuli Dei — Maddox Doucet, Jonah LeBlanc, Ethan Stone, Aedan Plunk-Fontenot, Max Proksch, and Luke Stone. Parvuli Dei (Children of God) is a program developed by the NCCS for Bear and Webelos Cub Scouts of the Catholic faith for advancement in religious knowledge and spiritual formation. Its purpose is to help young scouts explore a wide range of activities to discover the presence of God in their daily lives as members of a family and parish.
- Ad Altare Dei — Evan Alderson, Heyd Murphy, and A.J. Saltzman. The purpose of the Ad Altare Dei program for Boy Scouts is to foster the total personal and spiritual growth of each person by encouraging them to actively live out their Catholic faith. The program encourages the scout to be in “God’s presence” through self-reflection and study of the sacraments. It took the scouts just under a year to complete and is one of the more difficult emblems to earn.
- Pope Pius XII — Bryce Fuselier, Will Lounsberry, and Darnell Taylor. Developed for male and female members of the Boy Scouts of America of the Catholic faith who have started the ninth grade, the Pope Pius XII program serves as Catholic Scouting’s church-related ministries and vocation program dealing with life choices (single, married, religious, ordained), occupations and ministries in the church as calls from God.
Recognition for adults and their emblems are:
- Bronze Pelican — Melissa Murphy and Emery DeSonier. The award recognizes individuals in local dioceses who have made contributions to the spiritual development of youth in scouting. It may be given to any Catholic laity, clergy, religious or those of another faith.
- St. George — Lanny Fuselier. The St. George emblem is the highest honor that a Catholic adult can receive in scouting. The award recognizes outstanding contributions to the spiritual development of Catholic youth in the program of the Boy Scouts of America in the local diocese. Mr. Fuselier was commended for his role as a teacher and group leader despite his fear of speaking in public.
Members of the Catholic Committee on Scouting for the Diocese of Lake Charles are: Father Trey Ange, Chaplain; Scott Willis, chairman; Kristina Lounsberry, Chair of the Religious Emblem Committee; Scott Lounsberry, Marty and Jimmy Berry; Lannie Fuselier, Amanda Cahilog, John Halloran, Shawn Chamblee, Jacob Fontenot, Cassie Gage, Rebecca Turner, Melissa Murphy, Danella Taylor, Davin Marcantel, Amanda Saltzman, Floyd Saltzman, and Susan Fontenot.
Bishop Glen John Provost, back row; and Reverend Trey Ange, Chaplain for Catholic Committee on Scouting, far left, gather with recipients of various religious emblems and awards at the Bishop’s Brunch on Saturday, April 2, in the Ave Maria Hall of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. (Photography credit: Morris LeBleu / Diocese of Lake Charles)
