Renville scouts earn Pius XII Religious Award

Renville - Boy Scouts Jeremy Jenniges and Adam Mathiowetz, both of Renville, achieved a rare accomplishment when they were awarded the Pius XII Catholic Religious Scout Medal during the parish Mass on September 30, 2001.

Only two other Boy Scouts are recorded as having achieved this honor within the Catholic Diocese of New Ulm during its 44 year history, according to Father Andy Michels, the diocesan Scout chaplain.

To earn the medal, Jeremy and Adam worked with local program counselor Donald Clasemann in seven monthly sessions and did reading and activities on their own between the sessions. They capped their work with an overnight trip to St. Thomas University, St. Paul Seminary, and the Cathedral in St. Paul with other teenage boys from the diocese.

The Pius XII program involves study and decisions about how one will live an adult Christian life within our contemporary world: within one’s family, within one’s church, within one’s community, and in a world which is shared with people of other, non-Christian religions.

Father Paul van de Crommert, sacramental minister, and Donald Clasemann, pastoral administrator of Holy Redeemer, Renville, presented the awards.

More Scouting News

The New Ulm Catholic Committee on Scouting held their annual Scout Retreat at the Schoenstatt Center in Sleepy Eye, with scouts attending from Hutchinson, New Ulm, Renville, and Willmar. The theme for the weekend was "We Are One Body in Christ" and was a fun and inspiring time for all.

Mass was celebrated by Bishop John C. Nienstedt and Father Andy Michels. Following Mass three scouts received the Ad Altari Dei (To the Altar of God). They were: Travis Vlaminck, Michael Reitsma, and Ryan Cain of Kandiyohi. Pam Cain was their counselor.

The St. George Award, presented to individuals for recognition of outstanding service to the spiritual development of Catholic youth, was given to Don Hellendrung, Scoutmaster of New Ulm Troop #25; Father Andy Michels of Hutchinson, Scout Chaplain of the New Ulm diocese; Grace Zeller of Clara City, Committee Chairperson; and Tom Allinder of Willmar, Scoutmaster of Troop #227.