Whether the goal is being a good Scout or being a good Christian, it takes much more than just “wearing the uniform.”

Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, shared that message of the fundamental importance of commitment with the nearly 150 Scouts and adult Scout leaders whose accomplishments and service were recognized Sunday during the Diocesan Scout Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria.

About 130 girls and boys received religious medals, badges and patches presented by Bishop Jenky in an award ceremony at the conclusion of the Mass. Also, 14 men and women were honored for their steadfast support of Scouting in the Diocese of Peoria.

The names of the honorees were announced by Dr. Doug Loberg, chairman of the Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting.

Originally scheduled for Feb. 17, the Scout Mass was rescheduled to June 1 due to ice and winter storm warnings that weekend. Lists of the girls, boys and adults who received medals and awards were published in Feb. 17 and 24 editions of The Catholic Post.

It was the sixth consecutive year the diocese has celebrated a Scout Mass at the cathedral, with uniformed Scouts as altar servers, lectors and gift bearers. Four Scouts also presented flags in an opening ceremony as the assembly sang the National Anthem.

Concelebrating the Mass with the bishop were Father Glenn Harris, chaplain of the DCCS; Father Dennis Spohrer, a member of the DCCS; and Father Tony Lee, pastor of St. Jude’s Parish, Peoria, whose Boy Scout Troop 40 served as host council for the Scout Mass.

The Scout Mass “is an opportunity for the Catholic Church to do two things: to show its support for the Scouting programs, and to help Scouts and Scoutmasters to take their Catholic faith seriously,” Father Harris said.

The badges and medals that Bishop Jenky presented to the young people were earned by the Scouts, but the Adult Recognition awards are by nomination only.

The adult awards are given in recognition of outstanding contributions to the spiritual development of Catholic youth in the Boy or Girl Scouts or other affiliated organizations.