Pope Pius XII

Pope Pius XII is Catholic Scouting’s church-related ministries and vocation program. The program deals with different life choices (single, married, religious, ordained), occupations and ministries in the church as calls from God. It includes youth led discussions on current issues facing the church and society, which are normally included as part of a Pius XII retreat or day of recollection.

  • Registered Venture Crew and Scouting members of Catholic Faith.
  • Designed for scouts age 15-16-years-old, but all registered Venture Crew members (before their 21st birthday) and Scouting members (in high school, before their 18th birthday) are eligible.
  • Each Venture Crew Member and Scout must have their own Activity Book (Pope Pius XII Religious Emblem Participant Manual, Publication Date: 2017). These manuals are available only online from the NCCS at https://www.nccs-bsa.org/store/shop/
  • The program should be run by the candidates themselves, the adult serves as a Moderator
    Ideal group size is 4-12, but the course may be run with smaller groups.
  • A number of interviews and an investigation of a controversial issue facing the church or society are integral to the program.
  • A retreat experience, ideally centered on the Pius XII program itself and a ministries service project are required.
    The program is designed to be completed in 9-12 sessions. As the youth are older, two-hour sessions seem to work well, and flexibility is often required in scheduling sessions and interview feed back’s.
  • Successfully complete a Pope Pius XII Board of Review.
    Diocesan and Scouting America Youth Protection policies must be followed.
  • A trained religious emblems coordinator/counselor/moderator is required to work on religious emblems. Contact your Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting to become trained and for ceremony schedules.
  • Identify a counselor. Ask your Scoutmaster, pastor, parish administrator, director of religious education, any member of the troop committee, or Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting if there is an emblem counselor in your parish or area.
  • After you have selected your counselor, you must complete the application to begin working on the Emblem program. The application is in the Pope Pius XII Emblem book. The approval application must be signed by the applicant, parent, counselor, Troop leader, and pastor.
  • Again, Participant Manuals are available only online from the NCCS at www.nccsshop.org.
  • Attend the sessions and as a Venture Crew Member/Scout, the candidate is expected to actively share in group discussions and complete all interviews, activities and meetings.
  • Actively work on the activities. All journal entries, reports, and written work should be legible and neat.
  • Be prepared to share experiences at the Board of Review.
  • Keep the Religious Emblems Coordinator informed of your progress.
  • Counselors for the Pope Pius XII emblem should be approved in advance by their pastors and Scout Chaplain or Catholic Committee on Scouting.
  • The Pope Pius XII Religious Emblem Facilitator Manual (Publication Date: 2017) is an integral part of this program and contains the necessary resources for anyone. Facilitator Manuals may be obtained only directly from the NCCS at www.nccsshop.org.
  • All religious Emblem Counselors and Facilitators must have current Scouting America Youth Protection and Local Diocese Youth Protection training, Creating a Safe Environment.
  • Form the group
  • Act as Facilitator, not group leaders
  • Help the candidate focus on essential elements and important issues
  • Keep the Religious Emblems Coordinator informed of the youth’s progress.
  • After all sections have been completed, the counselor will contact the Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting to find out the schedule for the Pope Pius XII Board of Review.
  • The Scout will sit before the Board of Review.
  • After the pastor or his representative signs the book and the application form, only the application form, order form and check need to be sent to:

Diocese of Rochester
c/o  Mark Capellazzi
Diocesan Liaison for Catholic Scouting
1150 Buffalo Road
Rochester, NY 14624

  • Once materials (application form, order form, and check) are received and approved, the religious emblem will be mailed to the scout unless otherwise specified by the person submitting the materials or the Diocesan Liaison for Catholic Scouting.
  • Details regarding a religious emblem recognition by the Diocese will be shared with the scout and their family at the appropriate time.
  • Scouts who earn this Religious Emblem are also entitled to wear a Religious Knot on their uniform over their left pocket. These knots are not apart of a religious emblem recognition by the Diocese.