Boys and girls from throughout the Diocese of Peoria will receive medals, badges and patches in recognition of their efforts to strengthen their moral character and virtue at the annual Diocesan Scout Mass on Sunday, Feb. 15, at St. Mary’s Cathedral.

Eleven men and women will be honored with them for their support of Scouting in the diocese. In addition, two more adult honorees will be announced at the Mass, according to Dr. Doug Loberg, chairman of the Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting.

The committee is pleased to recognize adult Scout leaders, Dr. Loberg said, for all their hard work and devotion to Scouting programs. Members are also thankful that Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, has been a strong supporter of Scouting, he said.

Bishop Jenky will present youth and adult Scouting awards during the 3:30 p.m. liturgy. It will be the seventh straight year the diocese has celebrated a Scout Mass. The Mass in 2003 was the first diocese-wide Scout liturgy in more than a decade.

The emblems, medals and patches that Bishop Jenky will present to the young people have been earned by the Scouts, but the adult recognition awards are by nomination.

The religious emblems and badges hat Boy and Girl Scouts can earn are the Family of God, the I Live My Faith, the Mary Mother of God (or Marian) Medal, the Spirit Alive Medal, the Light of Christ, the Parvuli Dei (Children of God), the Ad Altare Dei (To the Altar of God), and the Pope Pius XII.

There are four awards that can be given to adults for their active participation in and support of Scouting: the Bronze Pelican Award, the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Award, the St. George Emblem, and the St. Anne Medal.

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. The Bronze Pelican is a diocesan recognition, and the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Award is given under the auspices of the National Catholic Youth Ministry.

The St. George Emblem and St. Anne Medal are awarded by the bishop on behalf of the National Catholic Committee on Scouting. They are the highest national awards of their kind.

Following is a list of the 11 adults who will receive adult recognition awards, with their parish affiliations and a brief summary of their service.

BRONZE PELICAN AWARD: Nicholas Bleuer, South Park Presbyterian Church, Rock Island; Mike Graham, St. Patrick’s Parish, Urbana; Father Anthony Lee, pastor, St. Jude’s Parish, Peoria; Mike Smigiel, St. Jude’s Parish, Peoria; Father Stephen Willard, pastor, Holy Cross Parish, Champaign

ST. ELIZABETH ANN SETON AWARD: Carol Houghland, St. Mary’s Parish, Rock Island

ST. GEORGE EMBLEM: James Doyle, Holy Cross Parish, Champaign; Father Greg Nelson, pastor, St. Paul’s Parish, Danville; Father Dennis Spohrer, parochial vicar, Holy Cross Parish, Champaign

ST. ANNE MEDAL: Jane Merdian, St. Edward’s Parish, Chillicothe; Joanne Schneider, St. Edward’s Parish, Chillicothe