Scouts, families attend annual Diocesan Court of Honor Mass

“Come here not to stay the same. Come to be changed,” Father John Pfeifer told scouts and their families who gathered Oct. 12 in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist for the annual Diocesan Court of Honor liturgy. Father Pfeifer and Father Bob Stec, Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting chaplains, celebrated the Mass.

After the liturgy, scouts and adults who volunteer with the program were presented with a variety of religious awards they earned during the year.

(See photo gallery above.)

Father Vince Hawk, pastor of Holy Trinity and St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception parishes in Avon, Father Dominic Gideon, parochial vicar at St. Albert the Great Parish in North Royalton, and Father Charlie Diedrick, pastor of St. Mary Parish and administrator of St. Agnes Parish, both in Elyria, concelebrated the Mass. Father Pfeifer is pastor of St. Patrick and St. Vincent de Paul parishes in Cleveland’s West Park neighborhood and Father Stec is pastor of St. Ambrose Parish in Brunswick. St. Ambrose Parish also coordinated the music.

Reflecting on the Gospel, Father Pfeifer told the congregation that each of us has needed or wanted a second chance in life, an opportunity to correct a mistake. Jesus did that for the lepers — who were cut off from society because of their illness — when he cured them.

“The big question today is not what did you do to achieve the award, but how has this award changed you?” Father Pfiefer said. It’s important to keep loving, praying and serving — not just to achieve and award, “but because you want to share what God has done for you.”

Youth award winners included:

• Pillars of Faith, Boy and Girl Scouts who earned the Light of Christ, Parvuli Dei, Ad Altare Dei and Pope Pius XII awards — Liam Fallon, St. Ambrose, Troop 513B, Matthew Brooks, St. Charles Borromeo, Troop 221B, and Joseph Anderson, St. Colette, Troop 526B.
• Mary the First Disciple, which teaches sixth through eighth graders more about Mary and themselves – Eric Tonissen, advisor, Troop 70456; Emma Cowan, Avery Narowitz and Anna Tonissen, St. Mary of the Falls, and Clare Roach, St. Bartholomew and Melanie Sejba and Tara Mostoller, Troop 90474; Anna Mostoller and Margaret Sejba, St. Hilary.
• Missio, for girls in grades 11-12, focusing on exploring missionary discipleship and religious identity – Jennifer Ashforth and Barb Amador, advisors, St. Adalbert Troop 71551; Issabella Amador, Giacinta Ashforth and Katherine Hren.
• God is Love, which helps Daisies discover an appreciation for God – Vicki Potoma and Jennifer Ashforth, advisors, St. Bridget; Charlotte Potoma, Troop 70827.
• Family of God, which helps Brownies discover God’s presence in their daily lives – Sara Seybold, advisor, Troop 70034, St. Raphael; Fiona Bush, Gabriella Hanna, Sibella Hanna, Lebella Hanna, Fallon O’Brien, Maren Rabbett, Maria Schneeberger and Sabrina Seybold.
• I Live my Faith, designed around the themes of belief, sacraments, Catholic Christian living and prayer for students in grades 4-5 – Barb Armador and Jennifer Ashforth, advisors; Jessica Ashforth, St. Adalbert; Vivian Bobulsku, Holy Trinity and Karley Wyrick; Jennifer Ashforth and Vicki Potoma, advisors, Troop 70827; Cecelia Potoma, St. Bridget; Katie McCarthy, Tara Mostoller and Joanna Yant, advisors; Troop 90111, Gianna Buzzelli, Isabella Mostoller, Ella Wilson and Claudia Yant, St. Hilary; Troop 91505, Bridget McCarthy, Haley Pahlau, Hailey Quester, St, Hilary, and Lilian Robert; Troop 91544, Anna Millar, Emma Pressley and Ashley Schimmoeller, St. Hilary.
• Ad Altare Dei, designed to help Boy Scouts develop a fully Christian way of life – Dominic Shirdon and Spencer Shirdon, Holy Angels Troop 101B; Jeffrey Mendlik, St. Ambrose Troop 513B; Liam Gorris, St. Anselm Troop 99B; Nathan Stranko, St. Basil the Great Troop 221B; John Paul Brooks, Andrew Fatica and Christopher Pajk, St. Charles Borromeo Troo[p 221B and Matthew Kaminsky, St. Vincent de Paul (Akron), Troop[ 390B.
• Pope Pius XII, designed to help Boy Scouts explore the concept of vocation – Thomas Murrin, Holy Name of Jesus Troop 526B; Liam Fallon, St. Ambrose Troop 513B; Matthew Brooks, St. Charles Borromeo, Troop 221B; Joseph Anderson, St. Colette Troop 526B and Holly Robert, St. Thomas More, Troop 204G.
• Parvuli Dei, for Bears and Weblos in the Cub Scout program as they learn to discover the presence of God in their daily lives – Evelyn Statler, Communion of Saints, Pack 1; Evelyn Yates and Stephen Xavier Yates, Holy Angels, Pack 677; Joseph Klemen and Lincoln Schaffter, Holy Family (Stow), Pack 3274; Annalise Arthur, Michael Guffey, Vincent D’Arienzo and John Jauch, Holy Family (Stow), Pack 3177; Elsbeth Lumpkins, Resurrection, Pack 33269; Rylie Spark, St. Agnes, Pack 4830; Marc Polowyk, St. Albert the Great, Pack 526; Danielle Blake, Maximus King and Abby Vojtus, St. Ambrose, Pack 3513; Trevor Dorazio and Luke Gorris, St. Anselm, Pack 3104; Cameron Campo, Everette Chandler, Christian Martinka, Andrew McGregor and Matthew Wade, St. Columbkille, Pack 470; Dale Webber, St. Michael (Independence), Pack 28 and Theodore Maloney, St. Raphael, Pack 159.
• Light is Life, which helps Scouts ages 12-13 of the Eastern Catholic Rites develop a fully Christian way of life – Olexa Harmatiy, St. Andrew, Troop 526B and Maria Ustymenko and Sophia Ustymenko, St. Andrew (Brooksville, Fla.), Troop 34G.
• Light of Christ, an emblem earned by Tigers and Wolves as they learn to develop a personal relationship with Jesus – Maximillian-Kolbe Yates, Holy Angels, Pack 677; Annalise Arther, Harper Barket, Raymond Bonnett, Olivia Celetti-Bradley, Isabelle Jauch and Lucas Jennings, Holy Family (Stow), Pack 3177; Camryn Schaffter, Holy Family (Stow), Pack 3462; Curtis Bittner, Liam Cifranic, James Harrison, Benjamin Hickin, Xavier Papesch and Michael Walsh, Holy Trinity, Pack 3462; Linus Dorazio, St. Anselm, Pack 3104; St. Barnabas, Pack 575; Nathaniel Washock, St. Bede the Venerable, Pack 3383; Tyler Bruns, Bradley Calta, Samuel Kaczmarek, Colton Moly, Oliver Strobel, Ian Templeton and Matthew Wade, St. Columbkille, Pack 470; Harrison Dahl, Joseph Radin, Harry Seibel and Grayson Wheeler, St. Francis Xavier, Pack 3506; Theodore Berning, Graham Dunson and Jacob Sheredy, St. John Neumann, Pack 157; Henry Dwyer, St. John Vianney, Pack 383 and Luke Hudak, St. Joseph, Pack 157.

Adult award winners included:

• Light of the World pins for appreciation and gratitude went to the follow adults: Vicki Potoma, St. Bridget; Eric Tonissen, St. Mary of the Falls and Joanna Yant, St. Hilary.
• The Joseph P. O’Donnell Award for outstanding services to the spiritual development of Catholic youth in scouting programs for three or more years were presented to Samatha Jeffies (St. John Vianney) and Katie McCarthy (St. Hilary).
• The St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Medal, recognizing significant contributions of those serving the spiritual needs of Catholic members in organizations serving girls went to Sue Hren(St. Adalber) and Jennifer Parobek (St. Agnes).
• The St. Anne Medal recognizing outstanding service of adults contributing to the spiritual development of Catholic members of organizations for girls was received by Amy Tulenson (St. John Vianney).
• St. George, which recognizes clergy, religious and laity who made significant impact on and outstanding contributions to the spiritual development of Catholic youth in the Boy Scout program – David Rice, retired minister of word and sacrament in the Presbyterian Church, USA.

Unit/committee awards are:

• 2025 Pope Paul VI National Catholic Unit Excellence Award recognizing Boy Scout chartered units for their cooperation, development and programming focused on the Catholic faith – St. Albert the Great, Troop 526B; St. Ambrose, Pack 3513; SS. Cosmas & Damian, Pack 677 and St. Francis Xavier (Medina), Pack 3506 and Troop 506B.
• 2024 Quality Catholic Committee Award recognizing Catholic Committees on Scouting that promote and achieve a quality Catholic scouting program – Diocese of Cleveland Scouting Committee.

Click here for more information on the Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting and links to photos from the 2025 Court of Honor. Photos provided by Mark Horning.