BAY RIDGE — The Catholic Committee on Scouting and Girl Scouting in the diocese held its annual Youth Religious Awards Convocation and Adult Recognition ceremony on May 16 at Our Lady of Angels Church, Bay Ridge.

The congregation was smaller than usual and participants wore masks and practiced social distancing in seating. The ceremony and the annual recognition dinner did not take place in 2020 because of the pandemic. 

Jeanne Cirone, the new Committee chairperson from Mary Queen of Heaven parish, Brooklyn, delivered opening remarks, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Deacon James Noble of Immaculate Heart of Mary, Windsor Terrace, led the opening prayer. He and Deacon Vincent Lino of St. Anastasia’s, Douglaston,serve as diocesan chaplains for Scouting. 

While 16 Cub Scouts were awarded Light of Christ medals, only one, John McCluskey of St. Anselm’s, Bay Ridge, was in attendance.

The other Light of Christ honorees were: John M. Brown and Dominik Casper, both from St. Pancras, Glendale; Peter Chicavich, St. Mel’s, Flushing; Connor Corrigan, Brandon Drumgold, Daniel Flynn, Frankie Mestecky, James Scavone, Vincent Socci, William Wehner, all of Sacred Heart; Michael De Ieso and Robert Chao, both of St. Andrew Avellino, Flushing; James Merritt, St. Luke, Whitestone; Jeremy Presley, St. Pancras, Glendale; and Evan Powles, Divine Mercy, Williamsburg.

Eight of the 24 recipients of the Parvuli Dei Award were present. They were: Louis Ceffalio, Immaculate Heart of Mary; Leonardo Escudero, Blessed Sacrament; Flynn Ferrier, Queen of Angels, Sunnyside; Benjamin Feygin, Divine Mercy; Charles Fonte and Philip Fonte of St. Michael’s, Flushing; Daniel Pantoja, St. Mary’s; and Antonio L. Valle, Immaculate Conception.

The other Parvuli Dei honorees were: Jeevan Albert and John P. Reilly, Holy Family, Flushing; Philip Alleva, Charlie Bachmann, Jake Callahan, Blake Lehman, St. Pancras; Benjamin Bolio, Hector Burgos, Joseph Catanzaro, Patrick Cervone, Joseph Fressle, Johan Perez, and Nicholas Sullivan, Sacred Heart; Nicole Klaus, Holy Family; Benjamin Penfold, Immaculate Heart of Mary; and Antonio Lucas Valle, immaculate Conception.

Three of the five Ad Altare Dei Awards were in attendance: Robert Capodicasa, Luca Friedman, and Thomas Hart, all of St. Anselm’s. Unable to attend were: Noah Abbas of St. Anselm; and Adam Bueno, Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Girls Scouts also were honored. The God is Love recipient was presented to Freya Michelle Magnus of Our Lady of Angels.

Two girls were honored with the Family of God Award: Janae Lynn Colon-Colazzo and Alyssa Mary Stimus, both of Our Lady of Angels.

I Live My faith Awards went to Violet Autumn James and Haily Nicole Steinsvaag, both of Our Lady of Angels. 

The Spirit Alive Award was presented to Victoria Brzezinski of St. Anselm’s.

The committee also recognized the contribution of adults to the movement. The Bronze Pelican Emblem was presented to Msgr. Steven A. Ferrari, pastor of St. Teresa, Woodside, Father Kevin Abels, pastor of Our Lady of Angels, and Alessandro Boselli and Michael Mangino of Our Lady of Mercy, Forest Hills.

The St. George Emblem recognizing outstanding contributions to the spiritual development of Catholic youth went to Harry D’Onofrio, Our Lady of Angels; and John Mulvey, St. Fidelis, College Point.

Honored with the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Award were: Jennifer D’Onofrio and Gladys Gonzalez, Natalie James, and Danielle Marie Stimus, all of Our Lady of Angels. 

The St. Anne Medal recognizing outstanding contributions to the spiritual development of Girl Scouts was presented to Jeanne M. Cirone of Mary Queen of Heaven.

The Catholic Committee presented special awards of recognition to Deacons Noble and Lino.

The committee also announced that Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio will make his annual visit to the Scout Camp at Ten Mile River in upstate New York on July 13. It also said that the annual retreat will not be held in a camp this year but in a local parish.