August 29, 2012

On July 16, 2012, members of Girl Scout Brownie Troop 44024 received the “Family of God” medal during evening mass at St. Andrew Church in Milford, Ohio.

Father Rob Waller and Father Michael Cordier jointly officiated and awarded each girl with her medal after mass. The girls, who are students at St. Andrew-St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School (SASEAS), completed several lessons throughout last school year, raised and donated money for a local animal shelter, and planted a flower bed at St. Andrew to earn the medal.

SASEAS School is a bi-parish school and some troop members regularly attend mass at St. Andrew, while others attend mass at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. Fr. Waller, pastor of St. Andrew Church, and Fr. Cordier, pastor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, graciously accepted the invitation to jointly present the awards. After mass, Barb Leesman, mother of Lauren Leesman, award recipient, said, “We are blessed that Fr. Waller and Fr. Cordier agreed to present the medals together. They are both so important in the lives of the girls. I just couldn’t imagine either of them not being here.”

“Family of God” is part of a Catholic religious recognition program administered by the National Catholic Committee for Girl Scouts and Camp Fire, under the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM). Girl Scouts, Camp Fire and American Heritage Girls in second and third grades can earn the “Family of God” award by completing the program. Its purpose is to help girls discover the presence of God in their daily lives as members of their family and parish. Most importantly, “Family of God” helps girls understand that they are important, especially to God.

Additional Girl Scout recognitions are available through the Catholic religious recognition program. For more information, contact the Cincinnati Archdiocese, Office of Youth & Young Adult Ministry or your local Youth Minister.