Hundreds of scouts from across the eight-county Diocese of Cleveland gathered for the annual Diocesan Court of Honor Mass on May 3 in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, with Father Bob Stec, diocesan Girl Scout chaplain, as the celebrant. The event was presented by the Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting, part of the Office of Diocesan Youth Ministry.
The entrance procession included flags and this year’s honorees – young people and leaders – from the various scouting groups, including Scouting America (formerly Boy Scouts), American Heritage Girls, Girl Scouts USA, Camp Fire, Inc., parish youth and similar organizations.
(See photo gallery above.)
Concelebrants for the annual liturgy were Father John Pfeifer, diocesan Catholic Scouting American chaplain and pastor of St. Patrick (West Park) and St. Vincent de Paul parishes in Cleveland, Father Frank Basa, senior priest-retired, and Father Dominic Gideon, parochial vicar, St. Albert the Great Parish in North Royalton. Deacon Mark Tomecko of St. Francis Xavier Parish, Medina assisted. Music ministers were Max Menkaus and Rebecca Jarden.
In his homily, Father Stec, pastor of St. Ambrose Parish in Brunswick, told the scouts, their parents, families and friends that each of us is unique and wonderfully made by God. He compared characters from the musical “Shrek,” performed recently at St. Ambrose School, with the community.
In the second reading, Father Stec said St. Paul tells us that God has a plan for each of us, using our special gifts to create a family and the Church. “Everyone has different gifts for building up God’s kingdom … There is a strength in us and goodness when we see that.”
He said when we realize each person is different/unique, we can look at others differently. “This beauty and truth builds up God’s kingdom … Every one of us is unique, a living stone and together we create a family.”
After Mass, a variety of awards were presented to both the scouts and leaders. Scout awards included God is Love (Daisy Scouts), Family of God (Brownies), God and My Family, (American Heritage), Light of Christ (Tigers and Wolves), Parvuli Dei (Bears and Webelos), Ad Altare Dei, Pope Pius XII Award and Pillars of Faith. The last award is for Catholic Scouts who earned all four Catholic religious emblems, Light of Christ, Parvuli Dei, Ad Altare Dei and Pope Pius XII.
Adult awards included Bronze Pelican, St. George, St. Pope Pius VI National Catholic Unit Excellence Award, Quality Catholic Committee Award, Duty to God Award Light of the World and Father Joseph P. O’Donnell Award.
Anthony DaFonseca, chair of the Diocesan Committee on Catholic Scouting-Scouting America, accepted the 2025 Quality Catholic Committee Award on behalf of the diocese. It recognizes local Catholic Committees on Scouting that promote and accept a quality Catholic Scouting program. The diocesan scouting program has been a multi-year winner of this national award.
Click here to learn more about scouting in the diocese.